Reports & Indices Current Affairs Quiz — Last 12 months
Daily news by your exam, state and topic — each with a short summary, key facts and MCQs.
According to the Global Forest Resources Assessment 2025, what is India's global rank in total forest area?
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Correct answer: C — 9th
PIB: India moved up to 9th position in total forest area as per GFRA 2025; it was 10th in the previous assessment.
The Global Forest Resources Assessment (GFRA) 2025 was released by which organisation?
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Correct answer: B — Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)
PIB: GFRA 2025 was released by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) in Bali.
Consider the following statements regarding India in the Global Forest Resources Assessment 2025: 1. India retained its 3rd position worldwide in annual forest area gain. 2. The assessment was released by FAO at Rome. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
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Correct answer: A — 1 only
Only 1 is correct. PIB: India maintained its 3rd position in annual forest area gain; the GFRA 2025 was released by FAO in Bali, not Rome.
By how much did the combined Index of Eight Core Industries grow in September 2025 (provisional)?
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Correct answer: B — 3.0%
PIB: the ICI increased by 3.0% (provisional) in September 2025; 2.9% is the April–September cumulative and 6.5% the final August figure.
Which core industry recorded the highest growth in September 2025?
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Correct answer: D — Steel
PIB: steel production increased by 14.1% in September 2025, ahead of cement (5.3%), electricity (2.1%) and fertilizers (1.6%).
Consider the following statements about the Index of Eight Core Industries: 1. The eight core industries comprise 40.27% of the weight of items in the Index of Industrial Production. 2. Among the eight, refinery products carry the smallest weight. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
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Correct answer: A — 1 only
Only 1 is correct. PIB: the eight core industries comprise 40.27% of IIP weight; petroleum refinery products carry the largest weight (28.04%), while fertilizers have the smallest (2.63%).
Which State is ranked first in Category A of the State Mining Readiness Index released by the Ministry of Mines in October 2025?
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Correct answer: A — Madhya Pradesh
PIB: the top three in Category A are Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Gujarat.
Which States are the top three in Category C of the State Mining Readiness Index?
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Correct answer: B — Punjab, Uttarakhand and Tripura
PIB: in Category C, the top three ranks were obtained by Punjab, Uttarakhand and Tripura; Goa, Uttar Pradesh and Assam top Category B.
Consider the following statements about the State Mining Readiness Index (SMRI): 1. Its release fulfils an announcement made in the Union Budget 2025-26. 2. Its indicators pertain mainly to coal and lignite blocks. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
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Correct answer: A — 1 only
Only 1 is correct. PIB: SMRI fulfils the Union Budget 2025-26 announcement; its indicators — auction performance, early mine operationalisation, exploration and sustainable mining — pertain to non-coal minerals.
According to NITI Aayog's October 2025 report on deep-sea fisheries, India accounts for what share of global fish production?
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Correct answer: A — 8%
PIB: India is the second-largest fish-producing country in the world, accounting for 8% of global production.
Consider the following statements about NITI Aayog's report 'India's Blue Economy: Strategy for Harnessing Deep-Sea and Offshore Fisheries': 1. India's EEZ has an estimated potential yield of 7.16 million tonnes. 2. Phase 1 of the proposed roadmap covers 2025–28. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
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Correct answer: C — Both 1 and 2
Both are correct. PIB: the EEZ has an estimated potential yield of 7.16 million tonnes; Phase 1 (laying the foundation and fostering early growth) spans 3 years, 2025–28.
According to NITI Aayog's tax working paper of October 2025, the Income-tax Act, 2025 continues to criminalise how many actions and omissions?
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Correct answer: B — 35 across 13 provisions
PIB: the paper highlights that the 2025 Act continues to criminalise 35 actions and omissions across 13 provisions, most prescribing mandatory imprisonment.
Consider the following statements about the NITI Tax Policy Working Paper Series: 1. The first paper in the series dealt with Permanent Establishment and profit attribution for foreign investors in India. 2. The second paper recommends removing criminal sanctions even for cases of fraud and wilful evasion. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
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Correct answer: A — 1 only
Only 1 is correct. PIB: the first paper was on certainty, transparency and uniformity in Permanent Establishment and profit attribution for foreign investors; the second paper recommends restricting criminal sanctions to cases involving fraud or wilful evasion, not removing them.
According to NITI Aayog's 'Roadmap for Job Creation in the AI Economy' (October 2025), India's tech services sector could create up to how many new jobs in the next five years?
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Correct answer: D — 4 million
PIB: the roadmap says India's tech services sector has the opportunity to create up to 4 million new jobs in the next five years.
Consider the following statements about NITI Aayog's 'Roadmap for Job Creation in the AI Economy': 1. It was developed by NITI Aayog's Frontier Tech Hub in collaboration with NASSCOM and BCG. 2. It recommends launching a National AI Talent Mission. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
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Correct answer: C — Both 1 and 2
Both are correct. PIB: the roadmap was developed by NITI's Frontier Tech Hub with NASSCOM and BCG, and recommends a National AI Talent Mission working with the IndiaAI Mission.
NITI Aayog's October 2025 roadmap 'AI for Inclusive Societal Development' proposes which national mission for informal workers?
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Correct answer: D — Mission Digital ShramSetu
PIB: NITI Aayog called for Mission Digital ShramSetu, a proposed national mission to make AI accessible, affordable and impactful for every worker.
Consider the following statements about NITI Aayog's roadmap 'AI for Inclusive Societal Development' (October 2025): 1. It focuses on India's 490 million informal workers. 2. It warns that on the current trajectory, informal workers' average annual income will stagnate at $6,000 by 2047, against a $14,500 target. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
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Correct answer: C — Both 1 and 2
Both are correct. PIB: the study explores how AI can transform the lives of India's 490 million informal workers and warns that at the current trajectory their average annual income will stagnate at $6,000 by 2047, far below the $14,500 target.
The fourth edition of NITI Aayog's Trade Watch Quarterly (Q4 FY25) carries a special focus on which sector?
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Correct answer: C — Leather and footwear
PIB: this edition examines the leather and footwear sector, highlighting its employment potential and export opportunities.
According to NITI Aayog's Trade Watch Quarterly (October 2025), India's share in the $296 billion global leather and footwear market is about:
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Correct answer: D — 1.8%
PIB: India's overall share in the $296 billion global market is modest at 1.8%; the sector employs 4.4 million people.
The Competition Commission of India's 'Market Study on Artificial Intelligence and Competition' (October 2025) was conducted through which institution?
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Correct answer: D — Management Development Institute Society (MDIS)
PIB: CCI released its report Market Study on Artificial Intelligence and Competition, conducted through the Management Development Institute Society (MDIS).
According to the government explainer of October 2025, what was India's unemployment rate in 2023–24?
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Correct answer: D — 3.2%
PIB explainer: the unemployment rate fell sharply from 6.0% in 2017–18 to 3.2% in 2023–24.
Consider the following statements based on the government's October 2025 employment explainer: 1. EPFO added fewer than 1 crore net subscribers in 2024–25. 2. The share of self-employment fell from 58.4% in 2017–18 to 52.2% in 2023–24. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
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Correct answer: D — Neither 1 nor 2
Neither is correct. PIB: EPFO added over 1.29 crore net subscribers in 2024–25 (up from 61.12 lakh in 2018–19). Self-employment rose (not fell) from 52.2% in 2017–18 to 58.4% in 2023–24, while casual labour fell from 24.9% to 19.8%.
The first paper in NITI Aayog's Tax Policy Working Paper Series–I (October 2025) deals with which issue?
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Correct answer: C — Permanent Establishment and profit attribution for foreign investors
PIB (NITI Aayog): the first working paper is titled 'Enhancing Tax Certainty in Permanent Establishment and Profit Attribution for Foreign Investors in India'.
NITI Aayog's October 2025 working paper on Permanent Establishment recommends introducing which of the following for foreign companies?
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Correct answer: D — An optional, industry-specific Presumptive Taxation Scheme
PIB (NITI Aayog): the paper recommends an optional, industry-specific Presumptive Taxation Scheme for foreign companies, with legislative clarity, administrative efficiency and robust dispute resolution; it was prepared under NITI's Consultative Group on Tax Policy.