1. Global University Employability Ranking 2025
Tags: INDEX
Global University Employability Ranking 2025
Why in the news?
- The Indian Institute of Technology(IIT) Delhi is among the top 250 universities in the world for graduate employability, according to the Global University Employability Ranking 2025, compiled by HR consultancy Emerging and published exclusively by Times Higher Education.
Important points:
- The Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), United States leads the list securing the top spot in producing employable graduates followed by California Institute of Technology and Stanford University in the second and third spots.
- IIT Delhi ranks 28th, the only university from India in the global top 50.
- Indian Institute of Science (47), IIT Bombay (60), IIT Kharagpur (141), IIM Ahmedabad (160), IIT Madras (214), DU (219), Amity University (225), Anna University (237) and Bangalore University (249) are also in the list of best universities for graduate jobs.
- This global rankingspans 250 universities from 42 countries, with employers worldwide casting their votes for institutions both in their home countries and abroad.
- With the backing of global recruiters, this ranking highlights institutions that excel in equipping graduates with the skills and professional experience that top companies seek.
- Countries like France, Germany, and China stand out for their strong representation in the top tiers of the ranking, with universities from these nations consistently ranking highly in terms of graduate employability.
2. India has for the second consecutive year outperformed China in the QS Asia University Rankings 2025,
Tags: INDEX
QS Asia University rankings 2025
Why in news?
- India has for the second consecutive year outperformed China in the QS Asia University Rankings 2025, signaling a significant improvement in the country’s higher education ,released by global higher education analyst Quacquarelli Symonds.
The 11 indicators used to compile the QS Asia University Rankings are as follow:
- Academic reputation (30%)
- Employer reputation (20%)
- Faculty/student ratio (10%)
- International research network (10%)
- Citations per paper (10%) and papers per faculty (5%)
- Staff with a PhD (5%)
- Proportion of international faculty (2.5%) and proportion of international students (2.5%)
- Proportion of inbound exchange students (2.5%) and proportion of outbound exchange students (2.5%)
Important Points:
- With193 Higher Educational Institutions (HEIs) ranked in the list from India,the country showed the highest growth in university representation. The list also includes 21 new entrants.
- India was followed byChina with 135 universities, and Japan with 115 universities, according to the latest annual list of Asia’s best universities released by global higher education analyst Quacquarelli Symonds.
- India surpassed China in the 2024 QS ranking with 148 ranked universities. Only 133 educational institutes from China made to the list last year.
- About seven Indian universities are featured in the top 100 institutes in Asia.
- The Indian Institute of Technology Delhi (IITD) ranked the highest followed by IIT Bombay, which slipped to second place. Other names include the University of Delhi, IISc Bangalore, IIT Madras, IIT Kharagpur, and IIT Kanpur.
3. 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.
4. 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
5. 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
6. 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.
7. 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
8. 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.
9. 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
10. 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
