Indexes and Reports MCQ Quiz - Objective Question with Answer for Indexes and Reports - Download Free PDF

The Correct Answer is IIT Delhi.

In News

• QS Rankings 2026 features record 54 Indian institutes, IIT Delhi tops.

Key Points

• A record 54 Indian institutes have been featured in the QS World University Rankings 2026.

• IIT Delhi is now India’s top-ranked institute in these rankings.

• IIT Delhi’s global rank improved from 150 to 123, its highest-ever position.

• With an overall score of 100, Cambridge (United States)-based Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) has topped the World University Rankings 2026 announced by Quacquarelli Symonds.

• Over 1,500 universities, representing over 100 locations worldwide, are included in the 2026 edition of the QS World University Rankings.

• IIT Bombay is at the 129th rank, and IIT Madras is at the 180th rank.

• These are the only three Indian varsities in the global list of top 200. 

The correct answer is option 3.

In News

• SIPRI’s 2025 yearbook highlights the expansion, modernization, and distribution of the global nuclear arsenal across nine nuclear-armed countries.

Key Points

• Russia and the USA together possess nearly 90% of the global stockpile. Hence, Statement I is correct.
• China is expanding its arsenal rapidly—by about 100 warheads per year since 2023. Hence, Statement II is correct.
• India has slightly expanded its arsenal and continues to develop new delivery systems including canisterised missiles. Hence, Statement III is incorrect.
• Over 2,000 warheads (about 2,100) are on high operational alert. Hence, Statement IV is correct.

Additional Information

• Total nuclear weapons (2025): 12,241 globally.
• Deployed warheads: 3,912
• In military stockpiles for potential use: 9,614
• Highest arsenals: Russia (5,459), USA (5,177)
• Emerging trends: Modernisation by all nuclear-armed states; stockpile increases in China, India, and North Korea.

The correct answer is Aruna Roy, Pooja Sharma, and Vinesh Phogat.

Key Points

• This year’s list of BBC’s 100 Most Inspirational Women includes three remarkable Indian women: Aruna Roy, Pooja Sharma, and Vinesh Phogat.
• Aruna Roy is a social activist and co-founder of the Mazdoor Kisan Shakti Sangathan (MKSS), known for her work advocating transparency and fair wages in India.
• Pooja Sharma has been recognized for her compassion, having performed the last rites for over 4,000 unclaimed bodies in Delhi.
• Vinesh Phogat, a three-time Olympian wrestler, is not only celebrated for her sports achievements but also for her political advocacy and outspoken stance on gender equality in sports.

Additional Information

• Other Recognized Individuals:
  • Indian-American Sunita Williams, a NASA astronaut, and Sneha Revanur, an AI expert, have also been recognized in the list.
  • These women were selected across various categories, including Climate Pioneers, Culture and Education, Entertainment, Politics, Advocacy, Science, Health, and Tech.
• BBC's List of Most Inspirational Women:
  • The list features women who have had an exceptional impact in their respective fields and have inspired others globally.
  • It serves to highlight the achievements and contributions of women from all walks of life, empowering others to follow in their footsteps.

The Correct Answer is 180.

In News

• India increased its nuclear warhead count to 180 in 2024: SIPRI report.

Key Points

• The Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) released its 2025 annual report on armaments and international security.

• Total global nuclear warheads: 12,241

• Military stockpiles (usable/operational): 9,614

• Deployed nuclear warheads: 3,912

• High-alert warheads (mostly from USA and Russia): ~2,100

• India has 180 nuclear warheads (stored, not deployed)

• Pakistan has 170 nuclear warheads

• China has 600 nuclear warheads, with 24 deployed

• All nine nuclear-armed countries (USA, Russia, UK, France, China, India, Pakistan, North Korea, Israel) are continuing nuclear modernization

• India is developing new nuclear delivery systems

• Pakistan is producing more fissile material and delivery systems

• China is expanding fastest, adding ~100 warheads/year since 2023

• Global military spending in 2024 was $2.7 trillion, an increase of 9.4%

• Top military spenders:

  • USA: $997 billion

  • China: $314 billion

• Top arms importers:

  • Ukraine, India, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan

• Top arms exporters:

  • USA (43%)

  • France (9.6%)

  • Russia (7.8%)

The correct answer is Only four.

In News

• The World Economic Forum (WEF) is hosting its Annual Meeting in Davos, Switzerland, from January 20 to 24, 2025, where key reports such as the Global Risks Report 2025 and the Future of Jobs Report 2025 are being discussed.

Key Points

• Global Risks Report: Published by the WEF, this report identifies and analyzes pressing global risks, such as climate change, geopolitical tensions, and technological challenges.  Hence, point 1 is correct.
• Global Gender Gap Report: This WEF publication ranks countries on gender parity across four dimensions: economic participation, educational attainment, health and survival, and political empowerment. Hence, point 2 is correct.
• Global Cybersecurity Outlook: Published by the WEF, this report highlights cybersecurity challenges, trends, and strategies to mitigate emerging threats in the digital world. Hence, point 3 is correct.
• Human Development Report: This is not a WEF publication. It is published by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and assesses human development based on health, education, and income. Hence, point 4 is incorrect.
• Future of Jobs Report: Published by the WEF, this report examines the impact of technology on labor markets, identifies in-demand skills, and predicts future workforce trends. Hence, point 5 is correct.

The correct answer is New Zealand.

Key Points

• The Human Freedom Index 2020, a worldwide ranking of civil, economic, and personal freedom, placed India at the 111th spot out of 162 countries.
• Human Freedom Index was published by American think tank Cato Institute and Fraser Institute in Canada.
• India ranked 94 on the index in the year 2019.
• India ranked 111th is ahead of China and Bangladesh, which ranked 129 and 139 on the 2020 index respectively.
• New Zealand, Switzerland, and Hong Kong bagged the first three spots.
• New Zealand:
  • Capital - Wellington.
  • Currency - New Zealand dollar.
  • Prime Minister - Jacinda Ardern.
  • National Sport - Rugby.

The correct answer is Jammu and Kashmir.

Key Points

• Home Minister Amit Shah released the first ‘District Good Governance Index’ for the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir on 22 January 2022.
• The Jammu district has emerged on top, while the Srinagar district has come at the fifth position.
• The index has been prepared by the Department of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances in collaboration with the government of Jammu and Kashmir.

Important Points

• The erstwhile state of J&K was split into two Union Territories in 2019 and the Centre took direct charge.
• The 20 districts in the UT of J&K were assessed now in 10 sectors.
• Jammu district was followed by the Doda and Samba districts of the Jammu Division.
• This was followed by the Pulwama district of the Srinagar Division at the fourth spot.
• The district of Rajouri finished at the last spot, while Poonch and Shopian districts also featured towards the end of the rankings.
• The 20 districts were also separately ranked under the various sectors.
• Jammu district ranked best on ‘Commerce and Industry sector, while Srinagar district ranked best on the ‘Public Infrastructure and Utilities’ sector.

Additional Information

• Jammu and Kashmir:
  • Number of Districts - 20.
  • Dams - Baglihar Dam (Chenab River), Dulhasti Dam (Chenab River), Uri-II Dam (Jhelum River).
  • National Parks - Dachigam National Park, Salim Ali National Park, Kazinag National Park, Kishtwar High Altitude National Park.

The correct answer is UNDP.

• The Human Development Index (HDI) is an index that is published by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).
• It measures key dimensions of human development. The three key dimensions are - 
  • A long and healthy life
  • Access to education
  • A decent standard of living  

About UNDP

• Headquarters - New York, United States
• Administrator - Achim Steiner
• Member Countries - 170 (Oct-2020)

The Correct Answer is ​Byrnihat.

In News

• Meghalaya's Byrnihat India's most polluted city In 2023.

Key Points

• Byrnihat in Meghalaya topped the list of the most polluted cities in India in 2023, closely followed by Begusarai in Bihar and Greater Noida in Uttar Pradesh.
• Delhi, known for its persistently high air pollution levels during winter, ranked as the eighth most polluted city, the report by independent think tank Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA).
• 227 cities with air quality data available for over 75 percent of the days in 2023 were studied.

The correct answer is 40.

Key Points

• India secured the 40th position in the Global Innovation Index.
• This is the first time the country entered the top 40. 
• The 2022 edition of the Global Innovation Index (GII) tracks the most recent global innovation trends against the background of an ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
• Slow productivity growth and other evolving challenges.
• It reveals the most innovative economies in the world, ranking the innovation performance of around 132 economies while highlighting innovation strengths and weaknesses.

Additional Information

• Switzerland is the most innovative economy in the world in 2022 - for the 12th year in a row - followed by the United States, Sweden, the United Kingdom and the Netherlands.
• The World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) on Thursday released the Global Innovation Index (GII) 2022.

Important Points

• Global Innovation Index 2023
• Top 10 Countries in GII:

• Last 10 Countries in GII:

The correct answer is Norway.

Key Points

• The 2021 edition of the EIU’s Democracy Index was released on 10 February 2022.
• Since the year 2006, the Economist Intelligence has been bringing forth the state of democracy worldwide in around 165 independent nations and two territories through its democracy index.
• It was topped by Norway.
• India was ranked 46th out of 165 nations.

In News

• India at 108th Position in Electoral Democracy Index 2023: India has now been ranked at the 108th spot globally for electoral democracy, by V-Dem Institute in its Electoral Democracy Report for 2023.

Important Points

•  The annual index, which provides a measurement of the state of global democracy, reveals an overall score of 5.28, down from 5.37 in 2020.
• According to EIU’s measure of democracy, less than half (45.7%) of the world’s population now live in a democracy of some sort, which is a significant decline from 2020 (49.4%).
• Even fewer (6.4%) reside in a “full democracy”; this level is slightly down from 8.4% in 2020, after two countries (Chile and Spain) were downgraded to “flawed democracies”.
• Substantially more than a third of the world’s population (37.1%) live under authoritarian rule, a large share of which are in China. 

The correct answer is rich countries.

• According to the World Development Report, countries having per capita income of more than US$12,000 per annum as on 2016 are called rich countries.

Key Points

• World Bank published the 2020 Atlas of the Sustainable Development Goals.
• Sustainable Development Goals seek to guide global action to address many of the world’s greatest challenges such as eradicating poverty, eliminating hunger, expanding access to education, achieving gender equality, and addressing the climate crisis.​

Important Points

The 17 sustainable development goals (SDGs) to transform our world:

• GOAL 1: No Poverty
• GOAL 2: Zero Hunger
• GOAL 3: Good Health and Well-being
• GOAL 4: Quality Education
• GOAL 5: Gender Equality
  GOAL 6: Clean Water and Sanitation
• GOAL 7: Affordable and Clean Energy
• GOAL 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth
• GOAL 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure
• GOAL 10: Reduced Inequality
• GOAL 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities
• GOAL 12: Responsible Consumption and Production
• GOAL 13: Climate Action
• GOAL 14: Life Below Water
• GOAL 15: Life on Land
• GOAL 16: Peace and Justice Strong Institutions
• GOAL 17: Partnerships to Achieve the Goal​

The correct answer is Andhra Pradesh.

Key Points

• Andhra Pradesh secured the first rank among police forces of the country in a survey conducted by the Indian Police Foundation (IPF).
• The survey, conducted in 28 states and Union Territories of the country assessed the force on competence, values, and public trust.
• Telangana ranked second while Assam was third.
• Kerala, Gujarat, and Delhi were ranked fourth, fifth, and sixth, respectively.

Important Points

• From bottom upwards are Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand and Punjab.
• The IPF Smart Policing Index 2021 surveyed 10 sets of questionnaires, which included six indices of “Competence-Based Indicators” dealing with issues such as police sensitivity, accessibility, responsiveness and technology adoption among others.
• It had three indices of “Value-Based indicators” dealing with integrity of the police; and one index of “Trust”.
• In Fair and Unbiased Policing category, the best performing states are Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Assam, Kerala and Gujarat. From the bottom are Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Rajasthan, Nagaland and Jharkhand.
• In Helpful and Friendly Policing, the best performing states are Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Assam, Sikkim and Kerala. The worst are Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Bihar, Chhattisgarh and Nagaland.
• In Police Accountability, the top states are Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Assam, Kerala and Odisha, while Uttar Pradesh, Nagaland, Uttarakhand, Bihar and Chhattisgarh are at the bottom.

The correct answer is 87th.

Confusion Points

• India's current position in the Hensley passport Index 2022 is 87th.
• India was ranked  83rd initially in the report when it was launched on 11 Jan 2022 but later dropped to 84th rank.
• Then Armenia decided to drop India from their free visa entry scheme.
• So, now India's ranking was dropped by two places and it stands at 87th rank.
• The ranking was updated by Henley Global on 12 Jan 2022.

Key Points

• India’s passport was ranked at 83rd position in the Henley Passport Index earlier, climbing six places from 90th rank in 2021.
• However, in 2020, its rank stood at 84 while in 2016, India was ranked 85th along with Mali and Uzbekistan.
• Japan and Singapore top the index in 2022 ranking.
• Germany and South Korea hold onto the joint 2nd spot in 2022.
• Finland, Italy, Luxembourg, and Spain share 3rd place.
• Afghanistan is ranked at the bottom (112th position).

Important Points

• Indian passport holders now have visa-free access to 60 nations.
• Passport holders from Japan and Singapore can travel visa-free to 192 countries.
• The index ranks all the world’s passports according to the number of destinations their holders can access without a prior visa and is based on exclusive data from the International Air Transport Association (IATA).
• Link: https://www.henleyglobal.com/passport-index/ranking

Additional Information

• International Air Transport Association:
  • Headquarters: Montreal, Canada
  • Founded on: 19 April 1945
  • Chairman: William M. Walsh
• Henley & Partners:
  • Headquarters: London, United Kingdom
  • Founded in: 1997

The correct answer is 150th.

Key Points

• India's ranking in the World Press Freedom Index 2022 has fallen down to 150th position from 142nd rank in 2021, out of 180 countries.
• 2023: India is ranked at 161 out of 180 countries.
• Norway (1st), Denmark (2nd), Sweden (3rd) Estonia (4th) and Finland (5th) grabbed the top positions.
• North Korea remained at the bottom of the list.
• Pakistan was at 157th position, Sri Lanka at 146th, Bangladesh at 162nd, and Maynmar at 176th position.

Important Points

•  Reporters Without Borders (RSF) released the World Press Freedom Index 2022, which assesses the state of journalism in 180 countries and territories.
• The Index highlights the disastrous effects of news and information chaos – the effects of a globalized and unregulated online information space that encourages fake news and propaganda.
• According to the RSF 2022 World Press Freedom Index, Nepal has climbed up by 30 points in the global ranking at 76th position.
• Last year, the Himalayan nation had been placed at 106th position, Pakistan at 145th, Sri Lanka 127th, Bangladesh 152nd and Myanmar at 140th position in the index.
• Russia was placed at 155th position, down from 150th last year, while China climbed up by two positions with the Reporters Without Borders placing it at 175th position.
• Last year, China was placed at 177th position.