GK-Indexes and Reports-Mock Test 1 -DECE Job Entrance,RRB Group D & NTPC

The Correct Answer is UNICEF.

In News

•  2023 Global Snapshot on HIV and AIDS: Progress and priorities for children, adolescents and pregnant women.

Key Points

•  Nearly 98,000 adolescent girls aged 10-19 were infected with HIV in 2022 – or 1,900 new infections every week – according to UNICEF’s latest Global Snapshot on Children with HIV and AIDS, released ahead of World AIDS Day.
• While total infections among girls aged 10-19 have almost halved since 2010 – from 190,000 to 98,000 – girls were still more than twice as likely to contract HIV last year, than boys.
• Globally, there were 270,000 new HIV infections among all children and adolescents aged 0-19 in 2022, bringing the total number of young people living with HIV to 2.6 million.
• Girls continue to bear the brunt of the HIV epidemic due, in part, to gender inequalities which often result in girls being disempowered to negotiate safe sex; poverty that manifests in communities being located far from healthcare centres; and a lack of access to HIV prevention and sexual and reproductive health programmes.
• Globally, nearly one million people aged 0-19 living with HIV are not receiving treatment, and more than half of this group – about 60 per cent – are in Eastern and Southern Africa.

The Correct Answer is 126.

In News

• World Happiness Report for 2024: India ranks 126 same as previous year.

Key Points

• Finland topped the list for the seventh year in a row, followed by Denmark, Iceland and Sweden.
• Israel too made it to the top five of the ranking.
• Meanwhile, Afghanistan was deemed as the least happy country, after Congo, Sierra Leone, Lesotho and Lebanon.
• India ranked 126th while China ranked 60th, Nepal at 93, Pakistan at 108, Myanmar at 118, Sri Lanka at 128 and Bangladesh at 129th spots.
• The World Happiness Report is published annually by the United Nations Sustainable Development Solutions Network and takes into account six variables — GDP per capita, healthy life expectancy, having someone to count on, freedom to make life choices, generosity, and freedom from corruption.
• It is supported by taking the average life evaluation data gathered by the Gallup polls for the 2021-23 period.

The correct answer is London, UK. In News

• TomTom Traffic Index 2023 has been released.

Key Points

• London, UK, tops the list with the worst traffic congestion, with an average travel time of 37 minutes and 20 seconds for a 10-kilometer journey.
• Bengaluru, India, ranks 6th in the list, taking an average of 28 minutes and 10 seconds for the same distance.
• Pune, India, follows closely behind at 7th place, with a travel time of 27 minutes and 50 seconds.
• Dublin, Ireland, ranks second in traffic congestion, just behind London.

Additional Information

• The TomTom report evaluated 387 cities across 55 countries.
• It measured traffic’s impact on travel time, fuel costs, and carbon emissions using data from over 600 million car navigation systems.
• Bengaluru was identified as the second most congested city globally, after Dublin.
• The report highlighted September 27 as the worst day to travel in Bengaluru, with an average travel time of 32 minutes for a 10-kilometer distance.
• Delhi, India, ranked 44th in the list, with an average travel time of 21 minutes and 40 seconds for the same distance.
• Mumbai, India, secured the 52nd position, with a travel time of 21 minutes and 20 seconds.

The correct answer is 111.

Key Points

• Global Hunger Index (GHI) for 2023
  • India ranked 111th out of 125 countries, indicating a serious level of hunger.​
  • This marks a fall from the previous year’s rank of 107 (2022).
  • India is classified as “serious” on the GHI Severity of Hunger Scale, with a 2023 GHI score of 28.7.
    • Compared to its GHI 2015 score of 29.2, which was likewise considered serious, this indicates a little improvement.
  • Furthermore, India has come a long way from its worrisome GHI ratings of 38.4 in 2000 and 35.5 in 2008.

Additional Information

•  Global Hunger Index
  • ​Concern Worldwide and Welthungerhilfe publish the yearly Global Hunger Index (GHI), a peer-reviewed publication.
  • The GHI is a tool intended to track and measure hunger at the national, regional, and global levels in a comprehensive manner, taking into account various aspects of hunger across time.
  • A score of 0 indicates no hunger, while a score of 100 indicates the greatest degree of hunger. The GHI score is determined using a 100-point scale.
  • The formula used to get each nation’s GHI score incorporates four parameters that collectively reflect the multifaceted nature of hunger:
  1. Undernourishment: The proportion of people who consume insufficient amounts of calories.
  2. Child Mortality: The percentage of children who pass away before turning five, partly due to the deadly combination of poor nutrition and unhealthful surroundings.
  3. Child Stunting: The percentage of children under the age of five who have low height for their age, reflecting chronic undernutrition.
  4. Child Wasting: The percentage of children under the age of five who have low weight for their height, reflecting acute undernutrition.

The correct answer is International Energy Agency (IEA). In News

• International Energy Agency Electricity 2024 Report unveiled.

Key Points

• The report “Electricity 2024” discussed in the article was released by the International Energy Agency (IEA).
• India’s electricity demand to grow at 6.5% annually until 2026, surpassing China’s growth rate.
• Coal remains the dominant energy source, meeting 68% of India’s electricity needs in 2026.
• Nuclear and hydro generation to expand, with Asia set to overtake North America in nuclear generation.
• India is also expanding renewable energy, with a target of 40% non-fossil fuel generation by 2030.

Additional Information

• The IEA is an autonomous intergovernmental organization focused on ensuring reliable, affordable, and clean energy for its member countries and beyond.
• The report provides forecasts and analysis of global electricity market developments, including demand, supply, and carbon dioxide emissions from the sector through 2026.
• It highlights the expected growth in global electricity demand and the significant role of low-emissions technologies in meeting this demand.
• The IEA’s findings underscore the importance of transitioning towards cleaner sources of electricity generation to address climate change and meet sustainability goals.
• Understanding reports like “Electricity 2024” helps policymakers, businesses, and stakeholders make informed decisions regarding energy policies and investments.

The correct answer is Option 1. In News

• Down To Earth: UNEA-6: Extraction & use of world’s resources has grown three times more in 50 years.

Key PointsGlobal Resources Outlook 2024:

• It was developed by the UNEP and the International Resource Panel (IRP). It was launched at the sixth session of the United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA-6) held from February 26 to March 1, 2024, in Nairobi, Kenya. Hence, Option 1 is correct.
• Global production and consumption of material resources has grown more than three times over the last 50 years, growing at an average of more than 2.3 percent a year, despite the increase being the main driver of the triple planetary crisis.
• The use of materials has been rapidly increasing worldwide. This includes fossil fuels, sands, metals, non-metal minerals, and biomass.
• The report noted approximately 90% of the global material demand comes from built environments and mobility, food, and energy systems. These are essential aspects of our society in general and also critical to sustainable development progress.
• Currently, extraction and processing already contribute to over 55% of greenhouse gas emissions and 40% of health issues related to air pollution. Combined with land-use change, the scale of impacts can grow to more than 60%, including biodiversity loss and water stress.
• Without bold changes towards sustainable resource use, the report predicted that material resource extraction could increase by almost 60% percent from 2020 levels by 2060, from 100 to 160 billion tonnes.
• The report noted that high-income countries use six times more materials per capita than low-income countries due to high levels of consumption and development.
• Consequently, it generates ten times more climate impacts per capita than low-income countries. In many cases, high-income countries often extract and exploit resources from low-income countries, leaving them to deal with various environmental and social issues in the aftermath.

The correct answer is Gujarat. In News

• The total capacity of rooftop/rooftop solar systems by December 2023 is approximately 11.08 GW .
• Gujarat tops the list with 2.8 GW  followed by Maharashtra with a capacity of 1.7 GW.

Key Points

• India’s rooftop solar capacity installations are growing at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of around 46%, according to Union Power and New & Renewable Energy Minister.
• In terms of total solar capacity, Rajasthan tops the list with 18.7 GW . Gujarat is at second place with 10.5 GW.
• In terms of installed rooftop solar system capacity, Gujarat tops the list with 2.8 GW, followed by Maharashtra with 1.7 GW.
• The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy launched Rooftop Solar Programme Phase-II to achieve 40 GW of rooftop solar capacity.
• The program offers Central Financial Assistance (CFA) for installation, with different rates for general and special category states.
• The cumulative rooftop solar installed capacity increased from 1.8 GW in March 2019 to 10.4 GW in November 2023.
• Several steps have been taken to promote rooftop solar, including online portals at DISCOM level and facilitation of concessional loans.

The correct answer is 7th.

In News

•  India ranks 7th overall and fourth after denmark with score of 70.25 in this year´s Climate Change Performance Index (CCPI) 2024.

Key Points

• As per the CCPI Index, No country achieved an overall ‘very high‘ rating. Therefore, the top three places continue to remain vacant.
• India received a high ranking in the GHG Emissions (31.22) and Energy Use (16.42) categories, but a medium in Climate Policy (16.38) and Renewable Energy (6.23).
• India is the best performing country among the G20 nations to achieve overall 7th rank and 4th after Denmark.
• Canada, Russia, Republic of Korea, and Saudi Arabia arel the G20’s worst-performing countries.

The Correct Answer is ​Byrnihat.

In News

• Meghalaya’s Byrnihat India’s most polluted city In 2023.

Key Points

• Byrnihat in Meghalaya topped the list of the most polluted cities in India in 2023, closely followed by Begusarai in Bihar and Greater Noida in Uttar Pradesh.
• Delhi, known for its persistently high air pollution levels during winter, ranked as the eighth most polluted city, the report by independent think tank Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA).
• 227 cities with air quality data available for over 75 percent of the days in 2023 were studied.

The correct answer is 80th.In News

• India was ranked 80th on the 2024 Henley Passport Index in January 2024.

Mistake Points

• In March the ranking went to 82nd spot.

Key Points

• Indian passport holders have visa-free access to 62 destinations, including popular tourist spots like Thailand, Indonesia, Mauritius, Sri Lanka, and the Maldives.
• Six countries share the top spot on the 2024 Henley Passport Index, providing their citizens with the most powerful passports.
  The elite club includes four EU member states: France, Germany, Italy, and Spain, along with Asian powerhouses Japan and Singapore.
  Japan and Singapore have consistently held the first-place ranking on the Henley Passport Index for the past five years, emphasizing the strength and global access of their passports.

Additional Information

• The Henley Passport Index reflects a significant increase in the average number of visa-free destinations over the years, reaching 111 in 2024 from 58 in 2006.
• Notable climbers in the past decade include the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Ukraine, and China, with the UAE rising 44 places to 11th position.
• Russia has seen a net gain of 24 destinations over the decade, maintaining the 51st place on the index with access to 119 destinations.