ReportsTap: July 2024 Current Affairs Magazine PDF

JULY- 2024 December - 2023 SEPTEMBER - 2023 1|P a g e Reports and Indices 1 to 15 July 2024 st th 2|P a g e Contents FIRST SECTION................................................................................................................................... 4 1. S...

JULY- 2024 December - 2023 SEPTEMBER - 2023 1|P a g e Reports and Indices 1 to 15 July 2024 st th 2|P a g e Contents FIRST SECTION................................................................................................................................... 4 1. Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) – National Indicator Framework (NIF) -Progress Report, 2024........................................................................................................................................ 4 2. SDG India Index 2023-24: Towards Viksit Bharat Sustainable Progress, Inclusive Growth...................................................................................................................................................9 3. Migration and Development Brief 40.................................................................................... 14 4. World Population Prospects 2024........................................................................................ 16 5. Financial Inclusion (FI) Index for March 2024...................................................................... 18 THIRD SECTION................................................................................................................................. 18 Reports and Indices 16th to 31st July 2024..................................................................................... 20 3|P a g e  FIRST SECTION 1. Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) – National Indicator Framework (NIF) -Progress Report, 2024 Released by: National Statistical Office (NSO), Ministry of Statistics & Programme Implementation (MoSPI) About: Data-driven evidence of India’s progress toward the SDGs and their associated targets. Publication: Every year on Statistics Day (i.e., on 29th June) Background: To monitor SDGs progress from 2015 to 2030, MoSPI released the "Sustainable Development Goals - National Indicator Framework Baseline Report 2015-16" in 2019, followed by yearly progress reports. The NIF encompasses indicators that align with the global SDG indicators and includes those tailored to meet India’s specific needs. The major selection criterion for inclusion of indicators in NIF are ‘relevance to SDG targets’, ‘national priorities’, ‘data availability’ and ‘policy significance’. As of 29th June 2024, there are 290 national SDG indicators in the NIF. o Initially (2019) it had 306 national indicators. Key Findings: Note: Different indicators have different reference years, which is why multiple timeframes are used in report. SDG 1: No poverty Indicator 2015-16 2019-21 2023-24 Proportion of men, women, and children living in poverty 24.85% 14.96% - Number of Self-Help Groups (SHGs) with bank credit 18.32 - 44.15 linkage (in lakhs) Coverage of New Pension Scheme (NPS) 97,50,406 - 1,80,43,920 SDG 2: Zero hunger Indicator 2015-16 2019-21 2022-23 2023-24 Stunted children under 5 years 38.40% 35.50% - - Net area under organic farming 0.974% - 4.4293% - Plant genetic resources secured For food and 4,32,564 - - 4,86,452 agriculture Animal genetic resources secured secured in 1,40,364 - - 3,16,214 medium-or long-term conservation facilities 4|P a g e  Gross Value Added in agriculture per worker (₹) 61,427 - - 87,609 SDG 3: Good health and well-being Indicator Performace Maternal Mortality Ratio (per 1,00,000 live births) From 130 in 2014-16 to 97 in 2018-20 Neonatal mortality rate (per 1,000 live births) From 25 in 2015 to 20 in 2020 Under-five mortality rate (per 1,000 live births) From 43 in 2015 to 32 in 2020 Tuberculosis incidence (per 1,00,000 population) From 208 in 2018 to 199 in 2022 Children aged 12-23 months fully vaccinated (%) From 62 in 2015-16 to 76.6 in 2019-21 with BCG, measles and three doses each of polio and DPT or Penta vaccine (excluding polio vaccine given at birth) Budgetary allocation for Department of Health From 1323.60 in 2016-17 to 3001.73 Research (in ₹ crore) In 2024-25 Maternal Mortality Ratio (MMR) is derived as the proportion of maternal deaths per 1,00,000 live births reported. Neonatal Mortality Rate is defined as the number of infant deaths of age less than 29 days (neonatal deaths) per 1,000 live births in a given year. SDG 4: Quality Education Indicator 2015-16 2021-22 2023-24 Gross Enrolment Ratio in higher secondary education (%) 48.32 57.6 - Gross Enrolment Ratio for tertiary education (%) 23.70 28.4 - Proportion of Schools with access to electricity (%) 58.55 - 89.3 Proportion of Schools with access to Computers for 27.31 - 47.5 Pedagogical Purpose (%) Free and compulsory education upto class 8th. SDG 5: Gender Equality Indicator 2015-16 2023-24 Exclusive Women SHGs in Bank linked SHGs (%) 88.92 97.53 5|P a g e Wages of casual labourers (gender wise) other than public works, (₹ per day): Source: SDG-NIF-Progress Report SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation Indicator 2015-16 2017-18 2019-20 2023-24 Population using improved drinking water source 94.57 - 96.96 99.29 (Rural) (%) Districts achieving Open Defecation Free (ODF) - 51.50 100 target (%) Degree of integrated water resources From 45 in 2020 to 75 in 2023 management SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy Indicator 2015-16 2019-20 2021-22 2022-23 2023-24 Households electrified (%) - 99.77 100 - - Renewable energy share in total 15.95 - - 22.51 - installed electricity generation (%) Installed renewable energy generating 63.25 - - - 136.56 capacity (watts per capita) SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth Indicator 2015-16 2023-24 Total number of patents issued (granted) 6,326 1,03,057 Outstanding Credit to MSME (₹ crore) 12,16,007.09 22,60,135.28 Developed and operationalized national strategy for youth employment, as a distinct strategy or as part of a national employment strategy SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure Indicator 2015-16 2016-17 2018 2020-21 2022-23 CO2 emissions of power sector per unit of - 57.71 - - 40.52 GDP (Tonne/Rupees Crore) 6|P a g e  Researchers (full time equivalent) per 218 - - 262 - million population Proportion of population covered by a mobile network, by technology 2022 Mobile-cellular network (%) - - 97 - 99.2 At least a 3G mobile network (%) - - 94 - 98.8 At least a 4G mobile network (%) - - 94 - 98.7 SDG 10: Reduced inequalities Indicator 2015-16 2022-23 2023-24 Labour Share of GDP (%) 30.23 33.14 - Budget allocated to North Eastern States (%) 1.66 2.10 - Budget allocated for welfare of SCs and STs (%) 2.86 - 6.19 SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities Indicator 2016 2024 Wards with 100% door to door waste collection (%) 43 97 Waste processed (%) 17.97 78.46 India adopted and implemented National Disaster Risk Reduction Strategies in line with the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030. SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production Indicator 2014-15 2017-18 2018-19 2022-23 2023-24 Per capita food availability (kg per year - - 176 207.6 - per person) Hazardous waste generated per capita - 7.19 - 9.28 - (MT/person) Proportion of hazardous waste treated - 0.51 - 3.55 - (MT/person) Installed renewable energy generating 63.25 - - - 136.56 capacity (watts per capita) Waste recycling plants installed From 829 in 2020 to 2447 in 2024 India has ratified international Multilateral Environmental Agreements on hazardous waste and other chemicals. SDG 13: Climate Action Indicator Current Level Reduction in Emission Intensity of GDP (%over 2005) 24 Extent to which (i) global citizenship education and (ii) education for sustainable development are mainstreamed in {Score (0-1)} 7|P a g e  National education policies 1 Curricula 0.92 Teacher education 0.95 Student assessment 1 India has nationally determined contributions and long-term strategies, as reported to the secretariat of the United Nations Framework, Convention of Climate Change. SDG 14: Life Below Water Indicator 2015-16 2023-24 Maximum Sustainable Yield in fishing (Million Tonne/Year) 3.078 5.311 India in Compliance of International laws ensuring conservation and sustainable use of oceans, seas and marine resources. SDG 15: Life on Land Indicator 2015 2016 2021 2023 Forest cover (% of total geographical area) 21.34 - 21.71 - Protected area (% of total geographical area) 5.14 - - 5.43 Area of Ramsar sites (% of total wetland area) - 4.15 - 8.73 2015-16 2022-23 Government spending on environmental protection (%) 0.05 0.08 SDG 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions Indicator 2015 2016 2022 2023 Victims of intentional homicide (per 1,00,000 population) 2.63 - 2.13 - Judges (all levels) per lakh population - 1.33 - 1.53 2015-16 2021-22 Government services provided online to citizens 968 4,671 Existence of independent national human rights institutions in compliance with the Paris Principles. SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals Indicator 2015 2016-17 2018- 2019- 2022 2023- 19 20 24 Share of India’s exports in global exports (%) Merchandise 1.62 - - - 1.80 - Commercial Services 3.27 - - - 4.40 - Proportion of domestic budget funded 68.14 (2015-16) 75.42 - - - by domestic taxes (%) States with a State Monitoring - - - 11 - 28 Framework for SDGs 2016-17 2022-23 8|P a g e  Budget allocated to different - 3,07,451 - - 6,15,030 Ministries for strengthening statistics (₹ lakh) 2. SDG India Index 2023-24: Towards Viksit Bharat Sustainable Progress, Inclusive Growth Released by: NITI Aayog in partnership with the UN in India and United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in India About: Measuring and tracking national and subnational progress on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of all States and UTs on 113 indicators aligned to the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation’s (MoSPI) National Indicator Framework (NIF). Edition: 4th (first published in 2018) SDG India Index Methodology: It computes goal-wise scores on the 16 SDGs and 70 targets for each State and UT and generates overall Composite Scores to measure the aggregate performance of each sub-national unit. o Goal 14 has not been included as it solely pertains to the 9 coastal States. o The Index does not measure indicators of SDG 17 owing to the unavailability of suitable data at the State/UT level. ▪ However, a qualitative assessment of the progress under SDG 17 has been included. Grounded in the globally accepted Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN) methodology. Key Findings: The composite score for India improved from 57 in 2018 to 66 in 2020-21 to further to 71 in 2023-24. Noteworthy advancements have been observed in Goals 1 (No Poverty), 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth), 13 (Climate Action) and 15 (Life on Land) which are now in the 'Front Runner' category. 9|P a g e  o Among these, Goal 13 (Climate Action) has shown the most substantial improvement, with its score increasing from 54 to 67. o Goal 1 (No Poverty) follows closely, with its score rising significantly from 60 to 72. Goal 5 (Gender Equality) demands special attention, as the overall country score is below 50. State and UT results: Category 2023-24 scores 2020-21 scores 2018(Baseline) States 57 to 79 52 to 75 42 to 69 UTs 65 to 77 62 to 79 57 to 68 Table: Score range of States and UTs The Index shows a significant increase in the number of States and UTs achieving Front Runner status, with 32 scoring between 65 and 99 this year, up from 22 in 2020-21. o Notably, 10 new entrants in the Front Runner category include Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Manipur, Odisha, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, and Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu. The SDG India Index 2023-24 shows an increase in composite scores across all States, with improvements ranging from 1 to 8 points. o Assam, Manipur, Punjab, West Bengal, and Jammu and Kashmir lead the way, each achieving an 8-point improvement since the 2020-21 edition. Between 2018 and 2023-24, fastest moving States are Uttar Pradesh (increase in score by 25), followed by J&K (21), Uttarakhand (19), Sikkim (18), Haryana (17), Assam, Tripura and Punjab (16 each), Madhya Pradesh and Odisha (15 each). Performer: Bihar, Jharkhand, Nagaland, Meghalaya. Top States Top UTs States at Bottom Uttarakhand and Kerala Chandigarh (77) Bihar (57) (scores of 79 each) Tamil Nadu (78) Jammu & Kashmir (74) Jharkhand (62) Goa (77) Puducherry (74) Nagaland (63) Himachal Pradesh (77) Andaman & Nicobar Islands Meghalaya (63) (70) Punjab (76) Delhi (70) Arunachal Pradesh (65) Table: Performance Of States and UTs * Brackets contain score. Goal-Wise Results: Goal 1: No Poverty Improved by 12 points from SDG India Index 3 (2020-21) to SDG India Index 4 (2023- 24), advancing from Performer to Front Runner category. o Multidimensional poverty nearly halved from 24.8% to 14.96% between 2015- 16 and 2019-21. 10 | P a g e  ▪ For 2022-23, it likely dropped further to 11.28%, with 24.8 crore people moving out of multidimensional poverty between 2013-14 and 2022-23. o 99.7% were offered employment of the persons demanding employment under MGNREGA in 2023–2024. o 95.4% households live in pucca/ semi-pucca houses as per National Family Health Survey (NFHS)-5 (2019-21). o 41% of households have at least 1 member covered under health insurance or health scheme as per NFHS-5 (2019-21), an improvement from 28.7% in NFHS - 4 (2015-16). Goal 2: Zero Hunger Moved from Aspirant category in SDG India Index 3 (2020-21) to Performer category in the SDG India Index 4 (2023-24). o 99.01% of beneficiaries covered under National Food Security Act (NFSA), 2013. o Improvement in productivity of rice and wheat from 2995.21 kg/ha in 2018-19 to 3052.25 kg/ha in TE 2021-22. o Increase in Gross Value Added (GVA) (constant prices) in agriculture per worker from ₹ 0.71 lakhs in 2018-19 to ₹ 0.86 lakhs in 2022-23. Goal 3: Good Health and Well-being Overall score improved substantially from 52 in 2018 to 77 in 2023-24. o Maternal Mortality Rate per 1,00,000 live births stand at 97. o Reduced under 5 mortality rate (per 1,000 live births) from 36 in 2016-18 to 32 in 2018-20. o 93.23% children aged 9-11 months are fully immunized. o 87.13% tuberculosis cases notified against target. o 97.18% of total deliveries reported in health institutions. SDG 4: Quality Education Adjusted Net Enrolment Rate (ANER) for elementary education is 96.5% for 2021-22, up from 87.26% in 2018-19, with 14 States and UTs achieving 100%. Pupil Teacher Ratio is 18 for 2021-22, thus achieving the target of 30. 88.65% of schools have access to both electricity and drinking water. 100% parity between females and males in Higher Education (18-23 years) Goal 5: Gender Equality Overall score improved significantly from 36 in 2018 to 49 in 203-24. o Sex ratio at birth (females per 1,000 males) stands at 929. o Improved ratio of female to male earnings (regular waged salaried employees) from 0.74 in 2018-19 to 0.76 in 2022-23. o Improved ratio of female to male Labour Force Participation Rate (LFPR) (15-59 years) from 0.33 in 2018-19 to 0.48 in 2022-23. 11 | P a g e  o 74.1% of married women have their demand for family planning met by any modern method as per NHFS -5. o 53.90% of women own a mobile phone that they themselves use (aged 15-59 years) as per NHFS -5. o 88.70% of married women participate in key household decisions as per NHFS - 5. SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation Significant improvement in score from 63 in 2018 to 89 in 2023-24. o All individual household toilets have been constructed against target and all districts have verified to be ODF under SBM(G). o 99.29% of rural households have improved their source of drinking water. o 94.7% of schools have functional toilets for girls. o Overexploitation in blocks/mandals/taluks has reduced from 17.24% in 2017 to 11.23% in 2022. Goal 7: Affordable and Clean Energy Highest score amongst all SDGs also significant improvement from 51 in 2018 to 96 in 2023-24. o 100% households have access to electricity under Saubhagya Scheme. o Significant improvement in households have clean cooking fuel (LPG + PNG) connections from 92.02% (2020) to 96.35% (2024). Goal 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth 5.88% of annual growth rate of India’s GDP per capita at constant prices in 2022–2023. Reduction in unemployment rate (15-59 years) from 6.2% in 2018-19 to 3.40% in 2022-23. Increased Labour Force Participation Rate (LFPR) (%) (15-59 years) from 53.6% in 2018-19 to 61.60% in 2022-23. 95.70% of households have one member with a bank or post office account. 55.63% of accounts in Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana (PMJDY) are held by women. SDG 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure Improvement in score from 41 in 2018 to 61 in 2023-24 o 99.70% of all targeted habitations are now connected with all-weather roads under Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana, an improvement from 47.38% in 2017-18. o 93.3% of households own at least one mobile phone. o 95.08% of villages have 3G/4G mobile internet coverage. Goal 10: Reduced Inequalities 45.61% seats of Panchayati Raj Institutions held by women. 28.57% representation of SC/ST persons in state legislative assemblies. 12 | P a g e SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities Significant improvement in score from 39 in 2018 to 83 in 2023-24. o Installed sewage treatment capacity as a percentage of sewage generated in urban areas has increased from 38.86% in 2018 to 51% in 2020-21. o The percentage of municipal solid waste processed has increased from 68% in 2020 to 78.46% in 2024. o 97% of wards have 100% door to door waste collection. o 90% of wards have 100% source segregation under SBM (U). Goal 12: Responsible Consumption and Production 91.5% of biomedical waste generated is treated in 2022. 54.99% hazardous waste recycled/utilized of total hazardous waste generated in 2022- 23– an increase compared to 44.89% in 2018-19. Goal 13: Climate Action Drastic improvement of 13 points in overall composite score from 54 (Performer category) in SDG India Index 3 (2020-21) to 67 (Front Runner category) in the SDG India Index 4 (2023-24). o Disaster preparedness score as per Disaster Resilience Index stands at 19.20. o Improvement in electricity generation from renewable energy from 36.37% in 2020 to 43.28% in 2024. o 94.86% of industries comply with environmental standards. Goal 15: Life on Land The score increased from 66 in SDG India Index 3 (2020-21) to 75 in SDG India Index 4 (2023-24). The number of States/UTs in Front Runner category increased from 17 in 2020-21 to 32 in 2023-24. o Nearly 25% geographical area under forests and tree cover – as per India State of Forest Report 2021. o 1.11% increase in carbon stock in forest cover – as per India State of Forest Report 2021. Goal 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions 95.5% of the population is under Aadhaar coverage as of March 2024. 89% of births registered of children under 5 years as per NFHS-5 (2019-21) 71.3% charge sheeting rate of IPC crimes as per NCRB 2022. Key interventions facilitating SDG achievements include: Over 4 crore houses under the PM Awas Yojana (PMAY). 11 crore Toilets & 2.23 lakh Community Sanitary Complexes in rural areas. 10 crore LPG connections under PM Ujjwala Yojana. 13 | P a g e  Tap water connections in over 14.9 crore households under Jal Jeevan Mission. Over 30 crore beneficiaries under Ayushman Bharat -Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana. Coverage of over 80 crore people under the National Food Security Act (NFSA). Access to 150,000 Ayushman Arogya Mandir which offer primary medical care and provide affordable generic medicines. Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) of ₹34 lakh crore made through PM-Jan Dhan accounts. The Skill India Mission has led to over 1.4 crore youth being trained and upskilled and has reskilled 54 lakh youth PM Mudra Yojana sanctioned 43 crore loans aggregating to ₹22.5 lakh crore for entrepreneurial aspirations of the youth besides Funds of Funds. Emphasis on renewable energy resulted in an increase in solar power capacity from 2.82 GW to 73.32 GW in the past decade. Between 2017 and 2023, India has added around 100 GW of installed electric capacity, of which around 80% is attributed to non-fossil fuel-based resource. Improvement in digital infrastructure with reduced internet data costs by 97% which has in turn positively affected and fostered financial inclusion. 3. Migration and Development Brief 40 Released by: World Bank Group under the Global Knowledge Partnership on Migration and Development (KNOMAD) About: Updates on migration and remittance flows as well as salient policy developments in the area of international migration and development. Key Findings: 2023 Remittance Flows to LMICs: Growth: Remittance flows to low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) grew by 0.7% in 2023, reaching $656 billion, marking a moderation after strong growth in 2021-2022. Remittances surpassed foreign direct investment (FDI) and official development assistance (ODA). Widening Gap: The global gap between inward and outward remittance flows has widened. Flows are supported by strong labor markets in advanced economies, especially in the United States. Remittance Flows by Region in 2023: Amount ($ Trend Region Change billion) Increment Latin America and the Caribbean 7.7% (highest) 156 Decline Middle East and North Africa -15% (highest) 55 Table: Remittances Flows Remittances to South Asia grew by 5.2% in 2023, reaching $186 billion, down from a 12% increase in 2022. 14 | P a g e  o Growth was driven by India, which saw a 7.5% increase to $120 billion, supported by strong labour markets in the United States and Europe. ▪ United States(1st) and UAE (2nd ) – largest source of India’s remittances o Flows are projected to grow by 4.2% in 2024. High-income countries $202 billion World $857 billion Top Recipients of Remittances in 2023: By Total Amount ($ billion) By Share of GDP (%) 1. India: 120 Tonga (41%) – Most dependent 2. Mexico Tajikistan 3. China Lebanon 4. Philippines Samoa 5. Pakistan Nicaragua Table: Top Recipients of Remittances The United States has continued to be the largest source of remittances in the world, followed by Saudi Arabia and Switzerland. o As a share of GDP, Saudi Arabia is largest. High Cost of Sending Remittances in 2023: In fourth quarter (Q4) 2023, the global average cost of sending $200 was 6.4%, up from 6.2% the previous year. ▪ This cost is well above the SDG target of 3%. Digital remittances cost 5%, compared to 7% for non-digital methods, highlighting the benefits of technology in reducing costs for migrants. Future Remittance Projections: Category 2024 Projections 2025 Projections LMICs $671 billion (2.3% growth) $690 billion (2.8% growth) Risks Risks: Slower economic growth in wealthy countries, fluctuations in oil prices, currency exchange rate volatility Remittances to $124 billion (3.7% growth) $129 billion (4% growth) India High-income $212 billion $223 billion countries World $883 billion $913 billion Table: Remittance Projections 15 | P a g e  International Migrant Stock in 2023: Aspect Details Total International Migrants 302 million Top Destination Countries United States (53,227) > Germany > Saudi Arabia > Russia > United Kingdom Largest Source Countries India (18.7 million) > Ukraine > China > Mexico > Venezuela Table: Migration Data Mexico to the United States is the largest migration corridor in the world. 4. World Population Prospects 2024 Released by: United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division About: Population estimates from the 1950s to the present for 237 countries or areas, underpinned by analyses of historical demographic trends. Edition: 28th Key Findings: The world’s population is likely to peak within the current century: o The world's population is expected to grow over the next 50 to 60 years, increasing from 8.2 billion in 2024 to a peak of around 10.3 billion in the mid- 2080s, and then gradually declining to 10.2 billion by the end of the century. o There is an 80% probability that the world's population will peak within this century (increase from the 30%) o The world's population in 2100 is now expected to be 6% smaller, or about 700 million fewer people, than anticipated a decade ago. 1 in 4 people globally lives in a country whose population has already peaked in size: o In 63 countries containing 28% of the world’s population, including China, Germany, Japan, and Russia, the population peaked before 2024. o In 126 countries and areas, including several of the world’s most populous countries like India, Indonesia, Nigeria, Pakistan, and the United States, the population is likely to continue growing through 2054, potentially peaking later in the century or beyond 2100. ▪ The overall increase in these locations is projected to be 38% through 2054. Women today bear one child fewer, on average, than they did around 1990: o Currently, the global fertility rate stands at 2.25 live births per woman,1 down from 3.31 births in 1990. o More than half of all countries and areas globally have fertility below the replacement level of 2.1 live births per woman. ▪ This is the level required for a population to maintain a constant size in the long run (without migration), with each generation being followed by another of roughly equal size. 16 | P a g e  o Currently, nearly one fifth of all countries and areas, including China, Italy, the Republic of Korea, and Spain, are experiencing "ultra-low" fertility, with fewer than 1.4 live births per woman over a lifetime. Early childbearing has harmful effects on young mothers and their children: o Today, average fertility levels are at or above 2.1 live births per woman in 45% of countries and areas globally. Following the COVID-19 pandemic, global life expectancy is rising once again: o Globally, life expectancy at birth reached 73.3 years in 2024, an increase of 8.4 years since 1995. ▪ Further reductions in mortality are projected to result in an average longevity of around 77.4 years globally in 2054. o In 2023, deaths among children under age 5 fell below 5 million for the first time. ▪ However, 95% of these deaths occurred in the 126 countries with growing populations, including the Democratic Republic of Congo, India, Nigeria, and Pakistan. The main driver of global population increase through mid-century will be the momentum created by growth in the past: o The youthful age structure of today’s global population is projected to contribute 79% of the total increase through 2054, adding around 1.4 billion people. Countries with youthful populations and declining fertility have a limited time to benefit economically from an increasing concentration of population in the working ages. By 2080, persons aged 65 or older will outnumber children under 18: o By the late 2070s, the global population aged 65 and older is projected to reach 2.2 billion, surpassing the number of children under 18. For some populations, immigration will be the main driver of future growth: o Immigration is projected to be the main driver of population growth in 52 countries through 2054 and in 62 countries through 2100, including Australia, Canada, and the United States. Gender equality and women’s empowerment help to counter rapid population growth or decline. Global Findings: China, currently the world's 2nd-most populous country, is expected to experience the largest absolute population loss between 2024 and 2054, with a decline of 204 million people, followed by Japan and Russia. India Specific: India's population is projected to be 1.45 billion in 2024, peak at 1.69 billion in 2054, and then decline by 12% to 1.5 billion by 2100. o Despite this decline, India will remain the most populous nation throughout the century. 17 | P a g e 5. Financial Inclusion (FI) Index for March 2024 Released by: Reserve Bank of India (RBI) About: Extent of financial inclusion across the country Publication: o Annually in July every year. o First published in August 2021 for the FY ending March 2021 Background: The FI-Index has been conceptualised as a comprehensive index incorporating details of banking, investments, insurance, postal as well as the pension sector in consultation with Government and respective sectoral regulators. The index measures financial inclusion on a scale from 0 to 100, where 0 means no access to financial services and 100 means full access to financial services. A unique feature of the Index is the Quality parameter which captures the quality aspect of financial inclusion as reflected by financial literacy, consumer protection, and inequalities and deficiencies in services. Key findings: The value of the FI-Index for March 2024 stands at 64.2 compared to 60.1 in March 2023, with growth witnessed across all sub-indices. Improvement in FI-Index is mainly contributed by Usage dimension, reflecting deepening of financial inclusion. THIRD SECTION 1. Worldwide Cost of Living 2023 Released by – Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) About – Enabling human resources and finance managers to calculate cost-of-living allowances and build compensation packages in 173 of the world’s major cities. Publication: Twice-yearly Key Findings: Most Expensive Cities: o 1st place tied between: Singapore and Zurich (Switzerland) ▪ Singapore kept its top position, for the 9th time in 11 years. ▪ Zurich is back at the top after 3 years. o 3rd: New York (US) tying with Geneva (Switzerland) 18 | P a g e  o 5th: Hong Kong Cities at bottom: o 169: Tashkent (Uzbekistan) o 170: Karachi (Pakistan) o 171: Tripoli (Libya) o 172: Tehran (Iran) o 173: Damascus (Syria) - cheapest city India Specific - Chennai: 163, Ahmedabad: 166 Western Europe accounts for 4 of the top 10 most expensive cities. 3 biggest climbers were Santiago de Querétaro and Aguascalientes in Mexico, and Costa Rica’s capital, San José. 3 biggest movers down the ranking: Russian cities of Moscow and St Petersburg experienced the biggest drop followed by Nairobi (Kenya) 2. ASK Private Wealth Hurun India Future Unicorn Index 2024 Released by – Hurun India About - Tracking startups that can likely become unicorns, touching a valuation of $1 billion and above. Key Findings: 25 Indian startups drop out of Index. o 2024 list now has names of 152 future Indian unicorns from 31 cities. 3 Indian startups, which had shown the potential of becoming unicorns when the index was last released, attained that status. India is currently home to 67 unicorns, 46 gazelles, and 106 cheetahs. o Gazelles and cheetahs are startups that can become unicorns in 3 and 5 years, respectively. 3. India's deeptech dawn: forging ahead Released by – Nasscom in partnership Zinnov About – Key Findings: India is home to over 3,600 startups in the deeptech space and ranks 6th in the global deeptech ecosystem. o Of these 480 deeptech startups were established in 2023 alone, which is two times higher than 2022 74% of the deeptech startups established in 2023 have concentrated on AI. Note: No report was available for inclusion in the second section, which is why this report does not have a second section. 19 | P a g e  Reports and Indices 16 to 31 July 2024 th st 20 | P a g e Contents FIRST SECTION................................................................................................................................. 22 6. Artificial Intelligence Preparedness Index (AIPI)................................................................. 22 7. Digital Economy Report 2024: Shaping an environmentally sustainable and inclusive digital future....................................................................................................................................... 23 8. Digital Payments Index (DPI) for March 2024.................................................................... 24 9. The State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World (SOFI) 2024: Financing to End Hunger, Food Insecurity and Malnutrition in All Its Forms............................................................ 25 10. Advancing India’s Structural Transformation and Catch-up to the Technology Frontier 29 11. The Economic Case for Investment in the Well-being of Adolescents in India.............. 30 12. eMobility R&D Roadmap for India.......................................................................................... 31 13. SBI Research Ecowrap........................................................................................................... 32 THIRD SECTION................................................................................................................................ 33 21 | P a g e  FIRST SECTION 6. Artificial Intelligence Preparedness Index (AIPI) Released by: International Monetary Fund (IMF) About: Assessing the level of AI preparedness across 174 countries Time coverage: Annual index as of 2023 Source and Methodology: Data and surveys of perceptions compiled by 8 institutions: Fraser Institute, International Labor Organization (ILO), International Telecommunication Union (ITU), United Nations (UN), United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), Universal Postal Union (UPU), World Bank (WB), and World Economic Forum (WEF). The Index has categorized each country into Advanced Economy (AE), Emerging Market Economy (EM), and Low-Income Country (LIC) Format of results: On a scale from 0 to 1, with higher values representing more favourable AI preparedness. Index Value: Advanced economies.68 Emerging market economies.46 Low-income countries.32 Table: Average Index Value Important Rankings: Countries Most Prepared for AI Countries Least Prepared for AI 1. Singapore (.800) 174. South Sudan 2. Denmark 173. Afghanistan 3. United States 172. Central African Republic 4. Netherlands 171. Somalia 22 | P a g e  5. Estonia 170. Mauritania Table: Rankings The top 5 countries in the index are from the AE category. India: Emerging Market Economy (EM) Ranked: 72 Index Value:.492 Table: Details of India India is the 2nd country with the highest rating in the Asia region after China which is ranked at 31st spot Additional Information: Earlier in 2024, the IMF published a blog based on their research paper, stating that AI could endanger 33% of jobs in AEs, 24% in EMs, and 18% in LICs. o Overall, 40% of the jobs around the world will be affected by AI, replacing some and complimenting others. 7. Digital Economy Report 2024: Shaping an environmentally sustainable and inclusive digital future Released by: United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) About: Environmental footprint of digitalization Note: This report was previously known as the Information Economy Report. Key Findings: Electronic Waste Management: Developing countries bear a disproportionate share of digitalization’s ecological costs while reaping fewer benefits. o They generate less than 1 kilogram of digitalization-related waste per person compared to 3.25 kilograms for developed countries. o For the least developed countries, it’s just 0.21 kilograms. A significant portion of digital waste created in developed countries is sent to developing nations, where formal collection and recycling systems are often inadequate. o In 2022, only 7.5% of digital waste in developing countries was formally collected, compared to 47% in developed countries. o Developing countries remain locked in the low value part of the waste value chain. o Developing countries in Asia generated most of such waste in 2022, with China contributing almost half of it. India: o India saw the highest 163% growth globally in generating electronic waste from screens, computers, and small IT and telecommunication equipment (SCSIT) between 2010 and 2022. 23 | P a g e  o India doubled its share in SCSIT waste generation in the world from 3.1% in 2010 to 6.4% in 2022. Devices and Mobile Data Traffic: Region 2018 2023 World 2.4 3.6 Asia-Pacific 2.1 3.1 Table: Number of devices and connection In 2023, nearly one-third of global mobile data traffic originated from Northeast Asia, with the next largest share coming from the group formed by Bhutan, India, and Nepal. 8. Digital Payments Index (DPI) for March 2024 Released by: Reserve Bank of India (RBI) About: Capturing the extent of digitisation of payments across the country. Publication: Since January 1, 2021, with March 2018 as the base (DPI score for March 2018 is set at 100), updated semi-annually with a 4-month lag from March 2021 onwards. Background: Composite RBI-DPI comprises of 5 broad parameters that enable measurement of deepening and penetration of digital payments in the country over different time periods. o Each parameter has sub-parameters, which include various measurable indicators. 24 | P a g e  Source: RBI Key findings: RBI-DPI) stood at 445.5 at the end of March 2024 compared to 418.77 in September 2023 and 395.57 in March 2023. o It registered a 12.6% on-year rise as on March 31, 2024. The RBI-DPI index has increased across all parameters driven by significant growth in payment performance and payment infrastructure across the country over the period. 9. The State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World (SOFI) 2024: Financing to End Hunger, Food Insecurity and Malnutrition in All Its Forms Released jointly by: Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the UN, International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), World Food Programme (WFP) and World Health Organization (WHO) About: o Headline number of undernourished people around the world, while advocating for strategies against hunger and malnutrition. o Part of The State of the World series of the FAO Publication: Annual Key Findings: Global: Food security indicators - Prevalence of undernourishment (PoU) (Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Indicator 2.1.1) reveals a continuing lack of progress towards the goal of Zero Hunger, with global undernourishment remaining nearly the same for 3 consecutive years after a sharp rise due to COVID-19. 25 | P a g e  o In 2023, an estimated 713 to 757 million people, or 8.9 to 9.4% of the global population, may have faced hunger. ▪ Using the mid-range estimate of 733 million, this equates to 1 in 11 people (9.1%) globally. ▪ Africa is the region with the largest % of the population facing hunger – 20.4% (1 in 5), compared with 8.1% in Asia. ▪ However, Asia is still home to the largest number: 384.5 million, or more than half of all those facing hunger in the world. o PoU is rising in Africa, stable in Asia, and improving in Latin America and the Caribbean. o By 2030, 582 million people will be chronically undernourished, with 53% of the global population facing hunger concentrated in Africa. Global prevalence of moderate or severe food insecurity (SDG Indicator 2.1.2) also remains far above pre-pandemic levels, with little change in 4 years. o In 2023, an estimated 28.9% of the global population, or 2.33 billion people, were moderately or severely food insecure. ▪ It includes 10.7%, or over 864 million people, who were severely food insecure, meaning they ran out of food at times during the year and, at worst, went an entire day or more without eating. Since data became available in 2015, it has been consistently observed that women experience higher rates of food insecurity compared to men, both globally and across all regions. Moderate or severe food insecurity affected 31.9% of people in rural areas, 29.9% in peri-urban areas, and 25.5% in urban areas. Cost and affordability of a healthy diet Note: The cost of a healthy diet (CoHD) indicator provides national-level estimates of the cost of acquiring the cheapest possible healthy diet in a country. Since 2017, the CoHD has risen globally, reaching an average of 3.96 PPP dollars per person per day in 2022. o It is highest in Latin America and the Caribbean. In 2022, 35.5% of the global population, or 2.83 billion people, could not afford a healthy diet, down from 36.5% (2.88 billion) in 2021. % (of population) Unable to Afford a Healthy Income Category Diet (2022) Low-income countries 71.50%: Highest Lower-middle-income countries 52.60% Upper-middle-income countries 21.50% High-income countries 6.30% Table: Affordability of Diet 26 | P a g e  Source: The State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World 2024 The state of nutrition There has been progress in reducing malnutrition, with improvements in stunting and wasting among children under 5 years and exclusive breastfeeding among infants (0-5 months). However, low birthweight and childhood overweight rates virtually remain unchanged, and anaemia in women aged 15-49 years has increased. Trends For the 7 Global Nutrition Targets: Source: The State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World (SOFI) 2024 The world is not on track to meet the 7 global nutrition targets by 2030. Indicators Projection for 2030 2030 Global Target Low birthweight in newborns 14.2% 10.5% Exclusive breastfeeding rate among 59% 70% infants (0-5 months) Children stunted (