Current Affairs November 2017 - Reports

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1 - India’s rank rises to 100 in World Bank’s doing Business Report, 2018

The World Bank has released the Doing Business (DB) Report, 2018. India ranks 100 among 190 countries assessed by the Doing Business Team. India has leapt 30 ranks over its rank of 130 in the Doing Business Report 2017.

The DB Report is an assessment of 190 economies and covers 10 indicators, which span the lifecycle of a business. India has improved its rank in 6 out of 10 indicators. India is the only country in South Asia and BRICS economies to feature among most improved economies of the DB Report.

2 - Goa topped Gender Vulnerability Index

According to the Gender Vulnerability Index (GVI) released by Child development NGO Plan India, Goa topped the rank. Bihar featured lowest in the rankings.

This index was calculated by analyzing four issues pertinent to the situation of girls - child safety/protection, poverty, health and education.

The other states in the top three are Kerala and Mizoram. Bihar was ranked was 30, Delhi at 29 and Uttar Pradesh at 28.

3 - India slipped 21 slots on WEF Gender Gap Index 2017

According to the World Economic Forum’s (WEF) Global Gender Gap Index 2017, India has been ranked at 108^th position, 21 places behind previous ranking, primarily due to less participation of women in the economy and low wages.

Bangladesh ranked 47^th while China was placed at 100^th. Iceland was ranked at the top followed by Norway (2^nd), Finland (3^rd), Rwanda (4) and Sweden (5) in the top five.

4 - Global TB Report 2017

According to the Global TB Report 2017 published by the World Health Organisation (WHO), India topped the list with 27.9 lakh TB cases in 2016. Global efforts to combat tuberculosis (TB) have saved an estimated 53 million lives since 2000 and reduced the TB mortality rate by 37%.

In 2016, there were an estimated 10.4 million new TB cases worldwide, 10% of which were people living with HIV. Seven countries accounted for 64% of the total burden. India was followed by followed by Indonesia, China, Philippines, Pakistan, Nigeria and South Africa.

5 - Global University Employability Ranking 2017

According to a report published by Times Higher Education, Indian Institute of Science (IISc) has ranked 29^th among the top 150 universities on Global University Employability Ranking. It was ranked 38^th position in 2016. Indian Institute of Technology Delhi (IITD) and Indian Institute of Technology Bombay (IITB) were ranked at 145^th and 148^th position.

The top five in the list are −

• California Institute of Technology
• Harvard University
• Columbia University
• Massachusetts Institute of Technology
• University of Cambridge

6 - Economic Intelligence Unit reported Bengaluru as best host to do digital transformations

The Economist Intelligence Unit ranked India’s Bangalore as best city to do ‘Go digital’ transformations. Bangalore was placed ahead of 45 cities. The other cities were San Francisco at 2^nd place, Mumbai at 3^rd place, New Delhi at 4^th place and Beijing at 5^th place. The cities found as the least digital were Berlin, Yokohama, Tokyo, Taipei and Rotterdam.

According to report, Bangalore businesses are at ease in confidence while having digital transformation in their immediate business environment. Bengaluru showed the highest confidence in their digital environment based on innovation and entrepreneurship, people and skills and start up.

7 - India placed at 7^th rank in business optimism index

Grant Thornton's International Business Report unveiled business optimism index among various countries. The list was topped by Indonesia followed by Finland at 2^nd place, Netherlands at 3^rd place, Philippines at 4^th place, and Austria at 5^th place. India was placed at 7^th position, downgraded from its previous rating of 2^nd position.

According to a survey, Indian businesses have shown less confidence over revenue expectations in the upcoming 12 months and less confidence for profitability. Index rating calculation is based upon optimism regarding sale, exports, revenue returns, investment in plant and machinery and Research & Development.

8 - Central Pollution Control Board reported Varanasi as most polluted city of India

Central Pollution Control Board surveyed the air quality of all 42 cities, and reported Varanasi city as most polluted city of India. The top five most polluted cities were Varanasi, Gurugram (2^nd), Delhi (3^rd), Lucknow (4^th) and Kanpur (5^th). India has been taking several measures to control pollution such as banned construction, odd even scheme etc.

Air quality of cities was measured on basis of Air Quality Index (AQI). When AQI ranges between 401 and 500, it shows air quality as ‘severe’ and presence of toxic smog. Varanasi’s AQI was reported 491.

9 - India ranked at 6^th place on climate risk index by Germanwatch environmental organisation

Berlin-based development and environmental organisation ‘Germanwatch’ unveiled list of countries facing most vulnerable climate risks. The latest global climate risk index was topped by Haiti followed by Zimbabwe at 2^nd place, Fiji at 3^rd place, Sri Lanka at 4^th and Vietnam at 5^th place. India was ranked at 6^th place on climate risk index.

Index is measured on the basis of analyzing number of deaths per 1,00,000 inhabitants, extent of financial losses and loss per unit of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of countries. Index does not includes geological incidents like earthquakes, volcanic eruptions or tsunamis.

10 - IMF reported ‘Qatar’ as the richest country in the world per capita

According to International Monetary Fund’s (IMF’s) report, Qatar was named the world's richest country in terms of per capita GDP (gross domestic product). Since Qatar’s economy is highly dependable on oil, its per capita GDP was calculated at $124930, followed by Luxembourg at 2^nd place with $109190 GDP per capita, Singapore at 3^rd place with $90530 income, Brunei at 4^th place with $76740 GDP per capita and Ireland at 5^th place $72630 GDP per capita income.

The report analysis summarize that most of the top richest countries have immigrant work population who immensely contribute to the economy of country.

11 - India climbed three steps to 51 on IMD World talent rankings

India has improved its ranking by three notches to 51 globally in terms of ability to attract, develop and retain talent while Switzerland topped the list compiled by leading global business school IMD. Switzerland, Denmark, Belgium, Austria, Finland, the Netherlands, Norway, Germany, Sweden and Luxembourg made up the top 10 respectively.

The annual IMD World Talent Ranking covered 63 countries and assessed the methods the countries adopted to attract and retain talent. China was ranked 40^th, followed by Russia at 43 and South Africa at 48. Brazil was ranked just after India at the 52^nd slot.