1. India’s Ashokan Edict Sites, Chausath Yogini Temples among six new additions to UNESCO's tentative list
Tags: Reports
Why in the news?
- A set of six properties , including some considered serially, such as Ashokan Edict Sites and Chausath Yogini Temples spread across multiple states have been added to India's tentative list by the UNESCO's World Heritage Centre.
Important points:
- Addition to the World Heritage Centre's tentative list is mandatory if a property is to be nominated for inscription to the World Heritage List in future.
- The six properties added to the tentative list include Kanger Valley National Park in Chhattisgarh; Mudumal Megalithic Menhirs in Telangana; serial nomination of Ashokan Edict Sites along the Mauryan Routes (multiple states); serial nomination of Chausath Yogini Temples (multiple states); serial nomination of Gupta Temples in north India (multiple states), and the palace-fortresses of the Bundelas in Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh, the statement said.
- With these additions, India now has 62 sites on the tentative list.The 'tentative list' is an inventory of properties each country intends to consider for UNESCO nomination.
- "The Chausath Yogini Temples have 64 images of Yoginis in their individual shrines with intricate stone carvings circularly arranged. These temples are mostly situated on hilltops. 'Yogini' refers to a female practitioner of yoga and 'chausath' is the Hindi word for the number 64.
- The Yoginis are 64 in number and hence called the Chausath Yogini. They are a group of forest spirits and mother goddesses," reads a description on the UNESCO website.
- "It is this embodiment of both alluring and threatening qualities, as well as the large number of goddesses from the group that identifies them as Yoginis," it reads.
- At present,a total of 43 properties from India are inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List, including 35 in the 'Cultural' category, seven in 'Natural' and one in 'Mixed' category.
- India hosted a World Heritage Committee meeting for the first time in 2024, during which the Moidams the mound-burial system of the Ahom Dynasty in Assam -- was accorded the coveted UNESCO tag.
2. India second-largest arms importer after Ukraine.
Tags: Reports
Why in the news?
- India was the second-largest arms importer, though the trade figures decreased by 9.3% between 2015-19 and 2020-24,according to data from theStockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI).
Important points:
- The largest share of Indian arms imports (36%) came from Russia, a significant drop from the 55% in 2015-19 and 72% in 2010-14.
- Ukraine, involved in a war with Russia for the past four years, was the largest importer of major arms in the world in the 2020-24period, clocking a nearly hundredfold rise in imports compared with the figures for 2015-19.
3. Delhi world’s most polluted capital for 6th straight year.
Tags: Reports
Why in the news?
- With anaverage PM 2.5 concentration of 91.8 μg/m3, Delhi continues to be the most polluted national capital in the world for the sixth consecutive year, according to the 2024 World Air Quality Report.
Important points:
- 13 of the world's top 20 most polluted cities are in India, with Byrnihat in Assam topping the list, according to a new report published on March 11, 2025.
- The World Air Quality Report 2024 by Swiss air quality technology company IQAir said Delhi remains the most polluted capital city globally.
- The other cities include Faridabad, Loni (Ghaziabad), Gurgaon, Greater Noida, Bhiwadi, Noida, Muzaffarnagar, New Delhi (Central Delhi) and Delhi (taking the average from the rest of the city).
- India is the fifth most polluted country in the world, with an average Air Quality Index (AQI) of 50.6 μg/m3 ,10 times higher than the World Health Organization’s (WHO) annual PM2.5 guideline value of 5 μg/m3.
- In 2023, it was the third most polluted country.
- The report notes that air pollution leaves a significant toll on health in India,reducing life expectancy by about 5.2 years.
4. India's millionaire population rise 6% in 2024.
Tags: Reports
Why in the news?
- Global property consultant Knight Frank released its 'The Wealth Report 2025', which estimated the HNWI population in India at 85,698 in 2024, as against 80,686 in the preceding year.
Important points:
- Number of Indian high-net-worth individuals (HNWIs), those having assets more than $10 million, rose 6% last year to 85,698, according to Knight Frank.
- India is now home to 191 billionaires of which 26 joined the ranks in just the last year which was pegged at just 7 in 2019.
- The combined wealth of Indian billionaires is estimated at US$ 950 billion, ranking the country third globally, behind the U.S. (US$ 5.7 trn) and Mainland China (US$ 1.34 trn).
5. Logistics Ease Across Different States (LEADS) 2024’ Report
Tags: Reports
Why in the news?
- Union Minister of Commerce & Industry, Shri Piyush Goyal released the “Logistics Ease Across Different States (LEADS) 2024” report in New Delhi.
Performance Highlights of LEADS 2024:
In LEADS 2024, the report evaluates logistics performance across four key pillars: Logistics Infrastructure, Logistics Services, Operating and Regulatory Environment, and the newly introduced Sustainable Logistics.
Coastal Group:
Achievers: Gujarat, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Odisha, Tamil Nadu
Fast Movers: Andhra Pradesh, Goa
Aspirers: Kerala, West Bengal
Landlocked Group:
Achievers: Haryana, Telangana, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand
Fast Movers: Bihar, Himachal Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Punjab, Rajasthan
Aspirers: Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand
North-Eastern Group:
Achievers: Assam, Arunachal Pradesh
Fast Movers: Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Sikkim, Tripura
Aspirers: Manipur
Union Territories:
Achievers: Chandigarh, Delhi
Fast Movers: Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu, Jammu and Kashmir, Lakshadweep, Puducherry
Aspirers: Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Ladakh
Shri Piyush Goyal also launched the PM GatiShakti Course of GatiShakti Vishwavidyalaya (GSV).
6. Release of Basic Animal Husbandry Statistics 2024
Tags: Reports
Release of Basic Animal Husbandry Statistics 2024
Why in the news?
- Union Minister, Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairying Shri Rajiv Ranjan Singh alias Lalan Singh released the annual publication of ‘Basic Animal Husbandry Statistics 2024’ of Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying on the occasion of National Milk Day celebrated in New Delhi on 26 November,2024.
Important points:
Milk, Egg, Meat and Wool Production 2023-24
- ‘Basic Animal Husbandry Statistics (BAHS)’ releases the estimation of production of Milk, Egg, Meat and wool in the country annuallybased on the results of Integrated Sample Survey (ISS) which is conducted across the country in three seasons i.e., Summer (March-June), Rainy (July-October) and Winter (November-February).
Milk Production:
- The total Milk production in the country isestimated as 239.30 million tonnes during 2023-24 registered a growth of 5.62% over the past 10 years which was 146.3 million tonnes in 2014-15. Further, the production has increased by 3.78% during 2023-24 over the estimates of 2022-23.
- The top five milk producing States during 2023-24 was Uttar Pradesh with a share of 16.21 % of total milk production followed by Rajasthan (14.51 %), Madhya Pradesh (8.91 %), Gujarat (7.65 %), and Maharashtra (6.71 %).
- In terms of annual growth rate (AGR), the highest AGR recorded by West Bengal (9.76%) followed by Jharkhand (9.04%), Chhattisgarh (8.62%) and Assam (8.53%) over the previous year.
Egg Production:
- Thetotal Egg production in the country is estimated as 142.77 billion nos. during 2023-24 and registereda growth of 6.8% growth over the past 10 years as compared to the estimates of 78.48 billion numbers during 2014-15.
- Further, the production has increasedannually by 3.18% during 2023-24 over 2022-23.
- The major contribution in the total Egg production comes fromAndhra Pradesh with a share of 17.85 % of total Egg production followed by Tamil Nadu (15.64 %), Telangana (12.88%), West Bengal (11.37%) and Karnataka (6.63 %).
- In terms of AGR, the highest growth rate was recorded by Ladakh (75.88%) and followed by Manipur (33.84%) and Uttar Pradesh (29.88%).
Meat Production:
- The total Meat production in the country is estimated as10.25 million tonnes during 2023-24 and registered a growth of 4.85 % over the past 10 years as compared to the estimates of 6.69 million tonnes in 2014-15.
- Further, the production was increased by 4.95 % in 2023-24 over 2022-23.
- It is further stated that the Major contribution in the total meat production comes fromWest Bengal with 12.62 % share and followed by Uttar Pradesh (12.29%), Maharashtra (11.28 %), Telangana (10.85 %) and Andhra Pradesh (10.41 %).
- In terms of annual growth rate, the highest Annual Growth Rate (AGR) has been recorded in Assam (17.93%) followed by Uttarakhand (15.63%) and Chhattisgarh 11.70(%).
Wool Production:
- The total Wool production in the country is estimated as 33.69 million kg during 2023-24 registered a slight growth of 0.22% over last year.
- It was 36.76 million kg during 2019-20 and 33.61 million KG in previous year.
- The Major contribution in the total Wool production comes fromRajasthan with a share of 47.53% followed by Jammu & Kashmir (23.06%), Gujarat (6.18%), Maharashtra (4.75%) and Himachal Pradesh (4.22%).
- In terms of annual growth rate, the highest AGR has recorded by Punjab (22.04%) followed by Tamil Nadu (17.19%) and Gujarat (3.20%).
World scenario:
- India is leading in milk production globally whereas 2nd in Egg production.
7. UNICEF’s State of the World’s Children 2024 (SOWC-2024) report
Tags: Reports
UNICEF’s State of the World’s Children 2024 (SOWC-2024) report
Why in the news?
- Children’s wellbeing will be ‘under threat’ by 2050, warns UNICEF.
Important points:
- The world is facing an unprecedented crisis with nearly half of all children, about 1 billion ,living in countries that face a high risk of climate and environmental hazards, the UNICEF’s State of the World’s Children 2024 (SOWC-2024) report, said.
- Today’s children are confronting amore unpredictable, hazardous environment than any previous generation.
- The report examines the impact of three long-term global forces, demographic shifts, climate and environmental crises, and frontier technologies, which it says will have a profound effect on children’s livesbetween now and 2050.
- The report says there is a bleak future for youth due to demographic shifts, climate change, and technological transformation by 2050
- Children are experiencing a myriad of crises, from climate shocks to online dangers, and these are set to intensify in the years to come.
About UNICEF:
- The United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund(UNICEF), is an organization that works to protect the rights of children and young people.
- UNICEF headquarters arein New York.
8. Global carbon dioxide emissions -2024
Tags: Reports
Global carbon dioxide emissions -2024
Why in news?
- According to a peer-reviewed report by a scientist, the collective has found that carbon emissions are set to rise 0.8% in 2024 since last year. This islower than the 1.2% rise in 2023, over 2022.
Important point:
- In 2023, the largest absolute contributions to global fossil CO2 (carbon dioxide) emissions were from China (31%), the United States (13%), India (8%), and the EU 27 (7%).
- India’s contribution to go up 4.6%,in 2023 as compared to 2022.
- These four regions account for 59% of global fossil CO2 emissions, while the rest of the world contributed 41%.
- EU-27 represents 27 of the most economically developed European countries.
9. WIPO Report-2024
Tags: Reports
WIPO Report-2024
Why in news?
- India has secured a spot in the global top 10 for all three major intellectual property (IP)rights-patents, trademarks, and industrial designs.
World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) :
- The World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) has published the World Intellectual Property Indicators (WIPI) 2024, underscoring global trends in intellectual property (IP) filings.
- The report reveals significant growth in patent, trademark, and industrial design applications across top economies.
Important Points:
- India has secured a spot in the global top 10 for all three major intellectual property (IP) rights—patents, trademarks, and industrial designs.India continues to solidify its place as a global leader in the intellectual property (IP) landscape by showing substantial progress and marking new milestones in IP activity.
- India recorded the fastest growth in patent (+15.7%) applications in 2023 among the top 20 origins, marking the fifth consecutive year of double-digit growth.
- Indiaranks sixth globallyfor patents with 64,480 applications, with resident filings accounting for over half of all submissions (55.2%)—a first for the country.
- The patent office also granted 149.4% more patents in 2023 compared to the previous year, underlining the country’s fast-evolving IP ecosystem.
- The report indicates a steady rise (36.4%) in India’s industrial design applications, which aligns with increasing emphasis on product design, manufacturing, and creative industries within India.
- The top three sectors—Textiles and Accessories, Tools and Machines, and Health and Cosmetics—made up almost half of all design filings,
- Between 2018 and 2023, patent and industrial design applications more than doubled, while trademark filings increased by 60%, reflecting the country’s growing emphasis on IP and innovation. India’s patent-to-GDP ratio also saw significant growth, rising from 144 to 381 in the past decade, indicating that IP activity is scaling alongside economic expansion.
- India ranked fourth globally in trademark filings, with a 6.1% increase in 2023.Nearly 90% of these filings were by residents, with key sectors including Health (21.9%), Agriculture (15.3%), and Clothing (12.8%) leading the way. India’s trademark office holds the second-largest number of active registrations worldwide, with over 3.2 million trademarks in force, reflecting the country’s strong position in global brand protection.
Significance:
- The findings from WIPO’s World Intellectual Property Indicators 2024 showcase India’s advancements in innovation and IP. The steady increase in resident filings demonstrates the impact of government initiatives, which aim to make India a global innovation leader.
10. Global TB Report-2024
Tags: Reports
Global TB Report-2024
Why in news?
- Recently Global TB report published by the world Health Organization(WHO) and Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi Lauds India’s Progress in the Fight Against Tuberculosis.
Important points of the report:
- It shows 8.2 million people were newly diagnosed with TB in 2023, a figure that represents the highest number of TB cases recorded by the WHO since it began global TB monitoring in 1995.
- It also marks a significant increase from the 7.5 million new TB cases reported in 2022.
- Although the estimated number of 1.25 million TB deaths in 2023 is down from the 1.32 million recorded in 2022 and continues a declining trend from the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, that number still far surpasses the 320,000 COVID deaths officially reported to the WHO last year.
- The data show that 30 mostly low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) bear 87% of the global TB burden, with five countries—India (26%), Indonesia (10%),China (6.8%), the Philippines (6.8%), and Pakistan (6.3%)—combining for 56% of the burden.
- 55 percent of people who developed TB were men, 33 percent were women, and 12 percent were children and young adolescents.
- According to the report, a significant number of new TB cases are driven by five major risk factors: undernutrition, HIV infection, alcohol use disorders, smoking, and diabetes.
India's condition:
- In 2023, India was estimated to have had 27 lakh TB cases, of which 25.1 lakh persons were diagnosed and put on treatment.
- This has buoyed India's treatment coverage to 89 percent in 2023 from 72 percent in 2015, thereby bridging the gap of missing cases.
- It acknowledged a drop in India's TB incidence - from 237 per lakh population in 2015, to 195 per lakh population in 2023, accounting for a 17.7 percent decline.