1. 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
2. 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.
3. 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
4. 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
5. 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)
6. 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%).
7. India Ranks Fifth in GenAI Innovations
Tags: INDEX
India ranks fifth in Generative AI (GenAI) innovations, trailing behind China, the US, Republic of Korea, and Japan.
An Overview of the News
India has filed 1,350 patents related to Generative AI from 2014 to 2023.
The country ranks fifth globally in total number of GenAI patents, following China (38,210), the US (6,276), Republic of Korea (4,155), and Japan (3,409).
India has surpassed the UK (714 patents) and Germany (708 patents) in the number of GenAI patents published.
Leading Companies in GenAI Patents:
Chinese companies Tencent, Ping An Insurance Group, and Baidu have published the most GenAI patent families in the last decade.
No Indian entities are in the top 20 GenAI patent owners.
Notable Indian patents include a retail AI assistant solution by RN Chidakashi Technologies (Miko Robotics) and an AI tool for contract lifecycle management by Tata Consultancy Services.
Innovation Growth in India:
India has recorded the highest annual growth rate in GenAI patent publications, averaging 56% growth.
Despite this rapid growth, India holds only 3% of the total GenAI patents globally.
China, with a high base, has a 50% growth rate in GenAI patents.
Global GenAI Patent Trends:
A total of 54,358 patent families were published in GenAI between 2014 and 2023.
89% of these patents (48,398) were considered active by the end of 2023.
Advances in AI and deep learning, including the introduction of transformer models in 2017 and the advent of popular apps like ChatGPT in 2022, have significantly increased GenAI patent activity.
The share of GenAI patent publications among all AI patents rose from 4.2% in 2017 to 6.1% in 2023.
Over 25% of all GenAI patents and over 45% of all GenAI scientific papers were published in 2023 alone.
Jurisdictional Insights:
WIPO data shows the relative maturity of China's patent regime compared to other countries.
Over 40,000 of China's GenAI patents were filed within the country from 2014 to 2023.
The US saw over 10,700 patents filed within its own jurisdiction.
98% of India's 1,350 patents were filed within its own jurisdiction.
Important Points
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 Ranks 72nd in IMF's Global AI Preparedness Index
Tags: INDEX
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) introduced the Artificial Intelligence Preparedness Index (AIPI) Dashboard on June 25, 2024.
An Overview of the News
The index ranks 174 Countries worldwide based on their preparedness for adopting artificial intelligence (AI).
India ranks 72nd with a score of 0.49, categorized as an Emerging Market (EM).
Bangladesh ranks 113th (0.38), Sri Lanka 92nd (0.43), and China 31st (0.63).
Rating Criteria: Ratings are based on digital infrastructure, human capital, labor policies, innovation, integration, and regulation.
Top Countries in the AI Preparedness Index
Singapore ranks 1st with an index of 0.800.
Denmark follows closely in 2nd place with an index of 0.778.
The United States secures the 3rd position with an index of 0.771.
Netherlands stands 4th with an index of 0.766.
Estonia, Finland and Switzerland are ranked 5th with an index of 0.754.
New Zealand and Germany are ranked 6th with an index of 0.753.
Sweden is ranked 7th with an index of 0.747
Impact and Job Displacement
Job Displacement: AI is projected to potentially disrupt 33% of jobs in advanced economies, 24% in emerging economies, and 18% in low-income countries.
Economic Reshaping: Economist Giovanni Melina highlights AI's potential to enhance job productivity and create new industries globally.
International Monetary Fund (IMF):
Establishment: 1944 (Formally came into existence in December 1945)
Members: 190 (India joined the IMF on December 27, 1945)
Headquarters: Washington DC
Important Points
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
9. WEF 2024 Report: Sweden Leads, India Ranked 63rd on Global Energy Transition Index
The World Economic Forum (WEF), in collaboration with Accenture, published its annual report titled "Fostering Effective Energy Transition 2024" on 19th June 2024.
An Overview of the News
According to the report, India has achieved the 63rd position on the global Energy Transition Index (ETI) 2024.
The report highlights that India has climbed 3 places from its 2023 rank of 67th, driven by notable enhancements in energy equity, security, and sustainability domains.
Top Countries on ETI 2024:
Sweden secured 1st place with an ETI score of 78.4.
Denmark followed at 2nd place with a score of 75.2.
Finland ranked 3rd with a score of 74.5.
Fastest Improving Countries (Last 5 Years):
Estonia, Ethiopia, and Lebanon identified as countries showing significant improvement.
About WEF:
Established: 1971
Founder: Prof. Klaus Schwab
Headquarters: Cologny, Geneva Canton, Switzerland
Managing Director: Saadia Zahidi
Important Points
- India ranked 3rd in Global Unicorn Index 2024
- India ranked 159th in World Press Freedom Index 2024
- India ranked 129th in Global Gender Gap Index 2024
- India ranked 39th in WEF's Travel and Tourism Development Index 2024
- India ranked 126th in World Happiness Report 2024
10. India ranked 129th in Global Gender Gap Index
India has slipped two places to the 129th position in the Global Gender Gap Index.
An Overview of the News
Among South Asian countries, India ranks fifth, behind Bangladesh, Nepal, Sri Lanka, and Bhutan, with Pakistan ranked last.
India demonstrates notable gender parity in secondary education enrollment and political empowerment.
India secures the 10th position for the number of years with female/male heads of state in the last 50 years.
However, India's overall gender gap closure has slightly declined to 64.1% in 2024 from 64.2% last year.
Top 10: The Global Gender Gap Index 2024 rankings
Iceland
Finland
Norway
New Zealand
Sweden
Nicaragua
Germany
Namibia
Ireland
Spain
Bottom 5: The Global Gender Gap Index 2024 rankings
Sudan 146 Rank
Pakistan 145 Rank
Chad 144 Rank
Iran (Islamic Republic of) 143 Rank
Guinea 142 Rank
About Global Gender Gap Report
The Global Gender Gap Report, initiated by the World Economic Forum in 2006, evaluates gender equality worldwide.
It measures how resources and opportunities are distributed among men and women within countries.
The report aims to raise awareness and foster dialogue among policymakers by highlighting role model countries in equitable resource allocation.
According to the 2023 report, it will take 131 years to close the global gender gap.
