1. India rises in the Global Innovation Index (GII) 2024
Tags: INDEX
India has risen to 39th place out of 133 countries, showing remarkable progress in innovation. It is recognised as a leader in innovation in Central and Southern Asia.
An Overview of the News
Ranked first among lower-middle income countries and fourth in the World Intellectual Property Organization's Science and Technology (S&T) cluster rankings.
Indian cities such as Mumbai, Delhi, Bengaluru and Chennai are listed among the top 100 S&T clusters in the world.
About GII
The GII, established in 2007 by WIPO, INSEAD and Cornell University, ranks countries based on their innovation potential across 81 factors.
Switzerland is often a leader due to its heavy investment in R&D.
2. Kerala tops Urban Governance Index (UGI)
Tags: INDEX
A two-year study by Praja Foundation assessing the governance quality of Indian cities. Kerala ranks first with a score of 59.31, ahead of Odisha's 55.10.
News Overview
The UGI promotes efficient urban governance and attracts investments for sustainable development.
Kerala excelled in financial empowerment, scoring 23.22 out of 30, better than Maharashtra (21.15).
Strong financial management at the local level is a key factor in Kerala's success.
Kerala is ranked 20th in urban governance empowerment, indicating a need for improvement.
About Kerala
Capital - Thiruvananthapuram
Chief minister - Pinarayi Vijayan
Districts - 14
Rajya Sabha - 9 seats
Lok Sabha - 20 seats
3. India Becomes 3rd Most Powerful Nation in Asia, Surpassing Japan in Asia Power Index
Tags: INDEX
India has surpassed Japan to become the third most powerful nation in Asia according to the 2024 Asia Power Index.
An Overview of the News
Strong post-COVID economic growth boosted India’s economic capability by 4.2 points in the index.
Increased Economic and Resource Strength:
India improved in all resource measures, with a significant rise of 8.2 points in future resources.
This growth highlights the potential demographic dividend from India’s youthful population, positioning it favorably compared to other Asian countries.
Diplomatic Influence and Geopolitical Stature:
India’s diplomatic influence rose with increased participation in international dialogues, ranking sixth in the number of diplomatic activities.
This enhanced India's geopolitical standing, further reinforcing its position as the third-largest power in the Asia Power Index.
Top 10 powerful countries according to the Asia Power Index:
United States
China
India
Japan
Australia
Russia
South Korea
Singapore
Indonesia
Thailand
4. Kerala Tops State Food Safety Index 2024 for the Second Consecutive Year
Tags: INDEX State News
Kerala has topped the State Food Safety Index (SFSI) for the second year in a row, as announced in the SFSI 2024 report.
An Overview of the News
The index was released during the Second Edition of Global Food Regulators Summit 2024 by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI).
Previous Rankings:
Kerala first topped the index in 2023.
In 2022, Kerala held the second position, with Gujarat ranking first.
Criteria for Ranking:
The State Food Safety Index measures performance based on five parameters:
Human Resources and Institutional Data
Compliance
Food Testing – Infrastructure and Surveillance
Training & Capacity Building
Consumer Empowerment
Top Ranking States:
Following Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Jammu & Kashmir, and Gujarat secured second, third, and fourth places, respectively.
Special Mention for Nagaland:
Nagaland received special recognition for improving its food safety ecosystem compared to the previous year.
5. Switzerland Named World's Best Country for the Seventh Time
Tags: INDEX
The Best Countries Ranking by US News & World Report has been released for 2024. Switzerland continues to hold the crown as the best country in the world.
An Overview of the News
The ranking is conducted in collaboration with the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania.
The list is based on a survey of nearly 17,000 participants evaluating 89 countries worldwide.
Switzerland is one of the most developed and economically stable countries globally.
It boasts low unemployment rates and a high GDP per capita. The country’s financial sector is strong, with a secure and reliable banking system.
Switzerland attracts global businesses and startups due to its innovation-driven economic policies.
The 10 best countries in the world for 2024:
Switzerland, Japan, USA, Canada, Australia, Sweden, Germany, UK, New Zealand, and Denmark.
Switzerland
Official Languages: Romansh, German, French, Italian
Currency: Swiss Franc (CHF)
President: Viola Amherd
Vice President: Karin Keller-Sutter
6. India Ranks 40th Globally in Alcoholic Beverage Exports
Tags: INDEX
India currently ranks 40th globally in alcoholic beverage exports.
An Overview of the News
The Agricultural and Processed Food Export Development Authority (APEDA) is targeting $1 billion in export revenue over the next few years.
As part of the ‘Make in India’ initiative, APEDA aims to boost exports of Indian spirits to major international markets.
Launch of Godawan Single Malt Whisky in the UK
Godawan, an artisanal single malt whisky made in Rajasthan, India, is set to launch in the United Kingdom.
The first batch was officially flagged off by senior officials from the Indian government and Diageo Plc.
International Promotion of Godawan
Godawan participated in the International Food and Drinks Event (IFE) in London in March 2024 under APEDA’s promotion.
The event served as a precursor to its official launch and export to the UK.
Support for Local Farmers in Alwar, Rajasthan
The six-row barley used in Godawan’s production is locally sourced from the Alwar region.
This initiative supports local farmers by enhancing their agricultural income through backward linkages.
7. WTO Report 2023: India Retains 8th Spot as Global Agricultural Exporter
Tags: INDEX
India retained its position as the world's 8th largest exporter of agricultural products in 2023.
An Overview of the News
This ranking is according to the World Trade Organization (WTO)'s report titled "World Trade Statistical Review 2023".
India's agricultural exports declined from USD 55 billion in 2022 to USD 51 billion in 2023.
Top 5 Global Agricultural Exporters
1st: European Union (EU) - USD 836 billion.
2nd: United States of America (USA) - USD 198 billion.
3rd: Brazil - USD 157 billion.
4th: China - USD 95 billion.
5th: Canada - USD 88 billion.
Overview of the "World Trade Statistical Review 2023"
A new interactive tool that presents key data and trends for international merchandise and commercial services trade in 2023.
The digital platform allows users to view trends by economy, region, product group, and services sector.
Reasons for Decline in India's Agricultural Exports
Geopolitical factors such as the Red Sea crisis and the Russian-Ukraine war, affecting regulated commodities like rice, wheat, sugar, and onions.
The Government of India's bans on wheat (May 2022), non-basmati rice (July 2023), and sugar (October 2023) exports contributed to the decline.
Important Points
India Ranked 82nd Henley Passport Index July 2024 and 80th position in January 2024
India Ranked 6th in Expat Insider 2024 Survey's
India Ranked Fifth in GenAI Innovations
India Ranked 72nd in the AI Preparedness Index 2024
India Ranked 63rd in the Global Energy Transition Index 2024
India Ranked 3rd in the Global Unicorn Index 2024
India Ranked 159th in the World Press Freedom Index 2024
India Ranked 129th in the Global Gender Gap Index 2024
India Ranked 39th in WEF's Travel and Tourism Development Index 2024
India Ranked 126th in the World Happiness Report 2024
8. India's Passport Rank Drops to 82nd in Henley Index July 2024
Tags: INDEX
According to the Henley Passport Index 2024 July Global Ranking, India's rank has dropped from the 80th position (in January 2024) to the 82nd position.
An Overview of the News
India provides visa-free or visas-on-arrival access to 58 countries.
India is placed at the 82nd position along with Senegal and Tajikistan.
Singapore has again topped the global rankings with the most powerful passport, offering visa-free entry to 195 countries.
Five countries share the 2nd spot: France, Italy, Germany, Spain, and Japan, with visa-free access to 192 countries.
For the first time, seven countries share the 3rd position on the index: Austria, Finland, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, South Korea, and Sweden, each with visa-free access to 191 countries.
Henley & Partners:
CEO:Dr. Juerg Steffen
Headquarters: London, UK
Established: 1997
9. NITI Aayog Releases 4th SDG India Index: Kerala and Uttarakhand Share Top Spot
Tags: INDEX
On 12th July 2024, NITI Aayog released the 4th edition of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) India Index and dashboard for 2023-24 in New Delhi.
An Overview of the News
India's overall SDG score improved from 66 points in 2020-21 to 71 points in 2023-24, due to progress in poverty reduction, economic growth, climate action, and life on land.
Kerala retained its top ranking among states for the 4th consecutive time, sharing the top spot with Uttarakhand, both scoring 79 points.
Lowest Performing States
Bihar was the worst-performing state with a score of 57 points, followed by Jharkhand (62) and Nagaland (63).
Top Performing Union Territories
Among Union Territories (UTs), the top performers were:
Chandigarh (77)
Jammu & Kashmir (74)
Puducherry (74)
Andaman & Nicobar Islands (70)
Delhi (70)
SDG India Index Dashboard
The SDG India Index 2023-24 is available on an online dashboard with user-friendly visualizations for identifying development gaps at national and subnational levels.
Launch Event
The index was launched by Suman Bery, Vice Chairperson of NITI Aayog, with key attendees including:
B.V.R. Subrahmanyam, CEO, NITI Aayog
Shombi Sharp, UN Resident Coordinator in India
Dr. Yogesh Suri, Senior Advisor, NITI Aayog
Isabelle Tschan Harada, Deputy Resident Representative, UNDP
Index Details 2023- 24
The index measured and monitored the progress of all states and UTs on 113 indicators aligned with the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation's (MOSPI) National Indicator Framework (NIF).
Scores for each state and UT on the 16 SDGs ranged from 0-100, with 100 indicating achievement of the 2030 targets.
Score categories: Aspirant (0-49), Performer (50-64), Front-Runner (65-99), Achiever (100).
SDG goal 14 was excluded from the composite score as it is limited to the 9 coastal states.
India's overall score was below 50 on all 16 goals except for Goal 5 (gender equality).
The SDG India Index was developed in collaboration with MOSPI, the United Nations, and the Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI).
SDG India Index 2023-24
Top 5 Performers:
Kerala and Uttarakhand (79 points)
Tamil Nadu (78 points)
Goa and Himachal Pradesh (77 points)
Punjab and Sikkim (76 points)
Karnataka (75 points)
Bottom 5 Performers:
Bihar (57 points)
Jharkhand (62 points)
Nagaland and Meghalaya (63 points each)
Arunachal Pradesh and Assam (65 points each)
Odisha (66 points)
10. Vietnam Tops Expat Insider 2024 Survey, India Ranks 6th
Tags: INDEX
Vietnam has topped the Expat Insider 2024 Survey's Personal Finance Index for the fourth consecutive term.
An Overview of the News
In Vietnam, 86% of expatriates rated the cost of living positively, with 65% satisfied with their financial situation and 68% considering their household income comfortable for survival.
India ranked 6th among the top 10 most affordable countries for immigrants according to the survey.
Colombia significantly improved its ranking from 7th place in 2023 to 2nd place in 2024. It was followed by Indonesia and Panama, which ranked 3rd and 4th respectively in the affordability index.
Top 10 Most Affordable Countries for Expats in 2024:
RANK | COUNTRY |
1st | Vietnam |
2nd | Colombia |
3rd | Indonesia |
4th | Panama |
5th | Philippines |
6th | India |
7th | Mexico |
8th | Thailand |
9th | Brazil |
10th | China |
About the Expat Insider 2024 Survey:
The survey covered over 12,000 expatriates across 174 territories worldwide.
To be included in the rankings, a country needed at least 50 respondents; this year, 53 destinations met this criterion.
Evaluation criteria included quality of life, digital connectivity, housing availability, career prospects, salary levels, and job security.
Financial reasons were cited as motivating factors among expatriates in countries like Panama (15%, compared to 12% globally), the Philippines (5%), and Thailand (4%).
