Report and Indices are important part of our society and for UPSC syllabus. Previous Year Question (PYQ) papers are invaluable resources for aspirants preparing for competitive exams like the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) examinations. In this article we present important PYQ on Report and Indices.
PYQ on Reports and Indices
Q- Which one of the following is not a sub-index of the World Bank’s Ease of Doing Business Index? (2019)
(a) Maintenance of law and order
(b) Paying taxes
(c) Registering property
(d) Dealing with construction permits
Answer- Option A
EXPLANATION
The World Bank’s ‘Ease of Doing Business Index’ comprises 10 sub-indicators, which include: Commencing a Business, Handling Construction Permits, Acquiring Electricity, Property Registration, Credit Accessibility, Investor Protection, Tax Compliance, Cross-Border Trade, Contract Enforcement, and Insolvency Resolution.
Q- The Global Competitiveness Report is published by the (2019)
(a) International Monetary Fund
(b) United Nations Conference Trade and Development on
(c) World Economic Forum
(d) World Bank
Answer– Option C
EXPLANATION
The “Global Competitiveness Report,” an annual publication by the World Economic Forum (WEF), evaluates a country’s capacity to offer substantial prosperity to its populace and categorizes nations according to the Global Competitiveness Index. Initially released in 1979, this report provides rankings based on various competitiveness indicators.
Q- “Rule of Law Index” is released by which of the following? (2018)
(a) Amnesty International
(b) International Court of Justice
(c) The Office of UN Commissioner for Human Rights
(d) World Justice Project
Answer- Option D
EXPLANATION
The WJP Rule of Law Index, released by the World Justice Project (WJP), evaluates how the rule of law is perceived and experienced globally through surveys conducted in 128 countries and jurisdictions. This quantitative assessment tool provides a detailed overview of countries’ adherence to the rule of law, encompassing eight dimensions: limited government powers, absence of corruption, order and security, fundamental rights, open government, regulatory enforcement, civil justice, and criminal justice. These dimensions are further broken down into forty-four indicators, offering a comprehensive assessment of rule of law compliance. Published annually, the Rule of Law Index draws on national surveys of over 130,000 households and 4,000 legal practitioners and experts worldwide, serving as a primary source of original, independent data on the rule of law.
Q- Which of the following gives ‘Global Gender Gap Index’ ranking to the countries of the world? (2017)
(a) World Economic Forum
(b) UN Human Rights Council
(c) UN Women
(d) World Health Organization
Answer- Option A
EXPLANATION
The Global Gender Gap Index, an annual report, is published by the World Economic Forum. Initially released in 2006, this index ranks 153 countries based on four key dimensions: educational attainment, health and survival, economic participation and opportunity, and political empowerment.
Q- Global Financial Stability. Report is prepared by the (2016)
(a) European Central Bank
(b) International Monetary Fund
(c) International Bank for Reconstruction and Development
(d) Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development
Answer- Option B
EXPLANATION
The Global Financial Stability Report, issued semiannually by the International Monetary Fund (IMF), evaluates the global financial system and markets while also examining emerging market financing within a global framework. On the other hand, the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (World Bank) releases reports such as the Ease of Doing Business and the World Development Report.
Q- India’s ranking in the Ease of Doing Business Index’ is sometimes seen in the news. Which of the following has declared that ranking? (2016)
(a) Organization Cooperation (OECD) for and Economic Development
(b) World Economic Forum
(c) World Bank
(d) World Trade Organization (WTO)
Answer- Option C
EXPLANATION
The World Bank annually releases the Ease of Doing Business Index, which evaluates countries’ performance across ten different dimensions for the 12-month period ending on May 1, 2019. New Zealand maintained its top ranking, while Somalia was positioned at the 190th spot. India’s ranking improved significantly from 77th place in the 2019 report to 63rd place in the 2020 edition, with its score rising from 67.23 to 71.0.
India saw enhancements in four key parameters: Starting a Business, Dealing with Construction Permits, Trading across Borders, and Resolving Insolvency. Additionally, India has been listed among the top ten economies worldwide where the business climate has shown the most improvement for three consecutive years. Furthermore, India continues to lead among South Asian countries in the Ease of Doing Business rankings. Other reports published by the World Bank include Global Economic Prospects and the World Development Report of the IBRD.
Q- Which of the following is/are the indicator/indicators used by IFPRI to compute the Global Hunger Index Report? (2016)
- Undernourishment
- Child stunting
- Child mortality
Select the correct answer using the code given below.
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 and 3 only
(c) 1, 2 and 3
(d) 1 and 3 only
Answer- Option C
EXPLANATION
The Global Hunger Index (GHI) is a tool developed by the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) to comprehensively assess and monitor hunger levels globally, both at the country and regional levels. It is an annual calculation that aims to shed light on both successes and failures in hunger reduction efforts while offering insights into the underlying causes of hunger. By increasing awareness and understanding of variations in hunger across regions and countries, the GHI seeks to contribute to the reduction of hunger worldwide.
To capture the multidimensional aspects of hunger, the GHI integrates four key indicators into a single index: undernourishment, child wasting, child stunting, and child mortality. These indicators collectively provide a picture of the prevalence of insufficient caloric intake, acute and chronic undernutrition among children under the age of five, and mortality rates among this vulnerable demographic group.
Q- In the Index of Eight Core Industries’, which one of the following is given the highest weight? (2015)
(a) Coal production
(b) Electricity generation
(c) Fertilizer production
(d) Steel production
Answer- Option B
EXPLANATION
The eight core industries in decreasing order of their weightage: Refinery Products> Electricity> Steel> Coal> Crude Oil> Natural Gas> Cement> Fertilizers. With Base Year 2011-2012
Q- Which one of the following issues the ‘Global Economic Prospects’ report periodically? (2015)
(a) The Asian Development Bank
(b) The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development
(c) The US Federal Reserve Bank
(d) The World Bank
Answer- Option D
EXPLANATION
The ‘Global Economic Prospects’ report is a flagship publication of the World Bank Group, which analyzes worldwide economic trends and future outlooks, particularly focusing on emerging markets and developing economies. This report is published biannually, in January and June. The January release offers detailed examinations of current policy issues, while the June edition features shorter analytical articles. Additionally, the report now includes a separate publication called the Commodity Markets Outlook.
Q- Which of the following organizations brings out the publication known as ‘World Economic Outlook? (2014)
(a) The International Monetary Fund
(b) The United Nations Development Programme
(c) The World Economic Forum
(d) The World Bank
Answer- Option A
EXPLANATION
The International Monetary Fund brings out the publication known as ‘World Economic Outlook’.
Also read about UPSC PYQ on Polity.