Reports & Indices Current Affairs 2026 for Government Exams

NITI Aayog released its report “Reimagining Skilling for Viksit Bharat@2047” in August 2026, estimating that 87 million (8.7 crore) youth aged 15–29 in India are Not in Education, Employment or Training (NEET). Built on data from the 78th round of the National Sample Survey (2021), it groups India's learners and workforce into five categories, including NEET youth and women. It flags a weak link between education and jobs, noting that only 8.25% of graduates work in roles matching their qualifications, and that fewer than 1 in 12 secondary schools offer vocational subjects despite NEP 2020. Over 7.67 crore people have been trained since 2014-15.

NITI Aayog released a report titled Key Sectors to Position India as a Global Manufacturing Hub, identifying four high-potential sectors - Chemicals, Textiles, Telecom & Networking equipment, and Solar Photovoltaic (PV) manufacturing. NITI assessed 62 sectors and shortlisted 12 on strategic importance, investment potential and supply-chain opportunity, with eight more to follow. It cites India's telecom scale (1.2 billion+ subscribers, ~85% penetration), flags National Telecom Policy 2025 (NTP-25) goals and recommends industrial clusters and lower manufacturing costs.

The National Statistics Office (NSO), under the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI), released the Quarterly Bulletin of the Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) for April-June 2026. The Unemployment Rate (UR) for persons aged 15 years and above rose to 5.4%, up 0.4 percentage points from the previous quarter. The overall Labour Force Participation Rate (LFPR) for those aged 15+ stood at 54.6% (down from 55.5%). Rural LFPR was 56.9% (down from 58.2%), while Urban LFPR was unchanged at 50.2%.

NITI Aayog released the report Reimagining Care: Strategies for Empowering Caregivers in Viksit Bharat@2047 (August 2026), a roadmap for an organised, professional caregiving ecosystem. Released by Vice Chairperson Ashok Kumar Lahiri, it recommends a National Policy on Caregiving (NPC) and a National Caregiver Council (NCC) to regulate training, accreditation, quality standards and a National Caregiver Registry.

Yale University (with Columbia University) released the Environmental Performance Index (EPI 2026), in which India ranked 176th out of 177 countries with an overall score of 22.46 — the second-lowest, ahead only of Laos (21.78). Estonia topped the index with 74.79, followed by Luxembourg (74.24) and the United Kingdom (71.51); Finland (4th) and the Netherlands (5th) complete a top five made up entirely of European nations. India improved marginally by +7.47 points over the last decade. India scored poorly on air quality and biodiversity (174th in both) but performed better in Climate Change (130th, +13.98 points) and Waste Management & Sanitation (141st). The EPI ranks countries on 47 indicators across 11 issue categories. The bottom five are Laos, India, Bangladesh (175th), Mali (174th) and Vietnam (173rd).

Per the BIMCO-ICS Seafarer Workforce Report 2026, released by the Baltic and International Maritime Council (BIMCO) and the International Chamber of Shipping (ICS), India became the world's 2nd-largest supplier of seafarers with 311,936 professionals (12.16% of the global workforce) — ranking behind the Philippines and ahead of China, Russia and Indonesia. India rose from 5th in 2015 (5.2% share) to 2nd in 2026, contributing 140,718 officers (13.41% of global officers) and 171,218 ratings (11.29% of global ratings). The report estimates global seafarer supply at 2.57 million against demand of 2.55 million.

India's Index of Industrial Production (IIP) growth rose to 7.3% in June 2026, up from 5.1% in May 2026, driven mainly by expansion in the manufacturing and capital goods sectors. The IIP is compiled and released by the National Statistical Office (NSO) under the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI). The IIP measures the volume of production across three broad sectors - Mining, Manufacturing and Electricity - with Manufacturing carrying the largest weight.

NITI Aayog launched the Roadmap for Building India as a Leading Bioeconomy Powerhouse by 2035 at the National Media Centre, New Delhi, released by Dr. Jitendra Singh (MoS Independent Charge, Science & Technology) with NITI Aayog CEO Nidhi Chhibber. Developed by the NITI Frontier Tech Hub (NITI-FTH) with the Department of Biotechnology, it targets a USD 691 billion bioeconomy by 2035 and USD 2.6 trillion by 2047, over 30 million high-value jobs, and a place among the world's top 3 biotech powers. It recommends six National BioMissions — GeneIndia, AgriBio 2.0, BioX Foundry, One Health Grid, Marine Biotechnology and BioPharmaNext — and a proposed Rs 50,000 crore BioEconomy Growth Fund (2026-2035) from within the existing Rs 1 lakh crore RDI framework.

NITI Aayog released the Investment Friendliness Index (IFI) 2026 in July 2026, a data-driven framework assessing the capability of States and Union Territories to attract and sustain investment. Top rankings: Gujarat topped both the large-States category and the overall ranking with a score of 56.6, followed by Maharashtra (53.7) at 2nd and Tamil Nadu (53.3) at 3rd. Goa ranked 4th (53.1) and Odisha 5th (52.4). Together the top 5 States account for 85% of total FDI inflows into India. Bottom rankings: Lakshadweep ranked lowest with 24.5, preceded by Ladakh (35th, 27.0), Andaman & Nicobar Islands (34th, 30.2), Manipur (33rd, 32.3) and Sikkim (32nd, 36.6). Classification: 5 States are 'Top Performers' — Goa, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Odisha and Tamil Nadu; 15 States/UTs are 'Front Runners' (including Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Chandigarh, Chhattisgarh, Haryana and Himachal Pradesh); and 8 States/UTs are 'Emerging' — Bihar, Jammu & Kashmir, Jharkhand, Meghalaya, Nagaland, Puducherry, Punjab and West Bengal.

The National Statistical Office (NSO), under the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI), released the Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) Monthly Bulletin for June 2026. India's overall Unemployment Rate (UR) for persons aged 15 years and above remained unchanged at 5.5% in June 2026. PLFS methodology was revamped from January 2025 to provide monthly and quarterly labour-force estimates for both rural and urban India.

Brand Finance released the India 100 Report 2026. The Tata Group retained its rank as India's most valuable brand for the 10th consecutive year (brand value USD 33.6 billion), followed by Infosys (USD 15.3 bn) and LIC Group (USD 15.3 bn). The Adani Group jumped to 8th (from 13th) — the fastest company to enter India's top-10 most valuable brands. Total valuation of India's top 100 brands is USD 252.8 billion, up 7% YoY. Suzlon Energy was the fastest-growing brand (+114% YoY to USD 418 mn); Taj Hotels was India's strongest brand for the 5th straight year.

Brand Finance released its India 100 Report 2026. The Tata Group retained its position as India's most valuable brand for the 10th consecutive year with a brand value of USD 33.6 billion, followed by Infosys (USD 15.3 billion) and LIC Group (USD 15.3 billion). The Adani Group jumped to 8th (from 13th) to become the fastest company to enter India's top 10 most valuable brands. Total valuation of India's 100 leading brands stood at USD 252.8 billion, up 7%. Suzlon Energy was the fastest-growing brand (up 114% to USD 418 million), and Taj Hotels was named India's strongest brand for the 5th year running.

The National Statistics Office (NSO) under the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) launched the first trial Index of Services Production (ISP) — India's first official monthly indicator of services-sector output, complementing the Index of Industrial Production (IIP). The ISP is India's first high-frequency indicator dedicated to measuring formal services-sector output, tracking short-term changes in the volume of output relative to a base year. The services sector is India's largest GDP contributor, accounting for over 50% of Gross Value Added (GVA) since 2013-14.

The World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) and Luiss Business School released the 3rd World Intangible Investment Report 2026, naming India the fastest-growing major economy in intangible investments. India's intangible investment reached USD 78.2 billion in 2023 after 7.9% annual growth — highest among the world's 15 largest economies, ahead of Japan (4.8%) and the USA (4.4%). Composition: software & databases 45%, organisational capital 21.8%, R&D 12.7%.

SBI Research (Economic Research Department, State Bank of India), in its pre-policy report titled *Prelude to Monetary Policy Committee Meeting: August 3-5, 2026*, projected India's Q1 FY27 (April-June 2026) GDP growth at around 7% - higher than the RBI's estimate of 6.6%. The upward view rests on strong high-frequency indicators: passenger-vehicle sales +24.1% YoY, electricity demand +11.5%, exports +15.5% and the IIP +7.3% (June 2026). Q1 FY27 inflation stood at 3.9%, with full-year FY27 CPI seen near 5%, within the RBI's 2-6% band.

India Index of Industrial Production (IIP) grew 7.3% year-on-year in June 2026, the fastest in nearly two years and the third straight month of acceleration, driven by strong manufacturing (automobiles, pharmaceuticals, electronics) and a revival in capital goods. IIP data is released by the National Statistical Office (NSO) under MoSPI; the Core Industries Index grew 5% in June 2026.

Copenhagen (Denmark) was ranked the world's most liveable city in the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) Global Liveability Index 2026, retaining the top spot for the second year running. Vienna (Austria) and Melbourne (Australia) held second and third places. The index ranks 173 cities on 30 indicators grouped into five categories: stability, healthcare, culture & environment, education and infrastructure. Several Middle Eastern cities slipped amid regional instability, while Asian cities rose, with nine now in the top 20. The EIU is the research arm of The Economist Group. The index scores each city out of 100 across five broad categories.

Global Citizen Solutions released the 5th annual Global Passport Index 2026: Sweden topped (96.05), followed by Switzerland, Finland, Germany, Netherlands; Singapore 10th. India ranked 125th of 197 with a composite score of 45.1 — its highest in 5 years (down one place from 124th). Category-wise: 136th in Enhanced Mobility (50% weight), 118th in Quality of Life (up 11) and 94th in Investment (up 3). Do not confuse with the Henley Passport Index, where India stands 80th.

UNCTAD's World Investment Report 2026, titled "International Investment in a Turbulent Era", ranked India 11th globally in FDI inflows (up 2 places), with 2025 inflows surging ~44% to USD 38.89 billion. Top destinations: USA (USD 277 bn), Singapore (USD 151 bn), Hong Kong (USD 116 bn). Global FDI rose 6% to USD 1.6 trillion after two years of decline. On outflows, India climbed to 18th among source economies (outward FDI up 47% to USD 35.66 bn). Strategic sectors (semiconductors, digital infrastructure, AI, advanced manufacturing, energy transition) made up 44% of global greenfield project value in 2025, up from 16% in 2024.

Reporters Without Borders (RSF) ranked India 157th of 180 countries in the 2026 World Press Freedom Index, a fall of six places from the previous year.

Released by the Institute for Economics and Peace, India ranked 13th (improved from 14th), while Pakistan ranked 1st (most impacted) for the first time.

India ranked 116th of 147 countries, up two places from 118th. Finland topped for the ninth consecutive year, followed by Iceland and Denmark.

Mukesh Ambani was India's richest at US$99.7 billion (21st globally). India produced a record 229 billionaires whose combined wealth crossed US$1 trillion.

India's passport ranking improved to 75th (up 10 places from 85th), reflecting expanded visa-free and visa-on-arrival access for Indian passport holders.

India climbed five places to 80th in the Henley Passport Index 2026, with visa-free, visa-on-arrival or e-visa access to about 55 destinations.

The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) released their joint Agricultural Outlook 2026-2035, a 10-year assessment of agricultural commodities, biofuels and fish across global markets. It projects global agricultural and fish production to rise 13% over the decade, driven by productivity gains in Asia, Latin America and Sub-Saharan Africa. Southeast Asia and India are expected to account for about 39% of global consumption growth, while China's share declines. The report supports tracking SDG 2 (Zero Hunger). The OECD-FAO Agricultural Outlook is a joint annual report.

The Central Electricity Authority's Long-Term National Resource Adequacy Plan (2026-27 to 2035-36) estimates India will need 174 GW / 888 GWh of energy storage (BESS + pumped storage) by 2035-36, with peak demand projected at 458.7 GW (about 300 GW in FY27, after touching 271 GW in May 2026). The IESA 'India BESS Market Review' (released at India Energy Storage Week) reported installed BESS capacity jumped 11-fold in six months — 0.78 GWh (Dec 2025) to 8.7 GWh (H1 2026).

The WEF released its Global Risks Report 2026 at Davos, flagging misinformation/disinformation, extreme weather, geoeconomic confrontation and societal polarisation among the top near-term global risks.

The report offered 22 policy recommendations and 76 action pathways, projecting India could host up to 11 lakh international students by 2047.

Released by CEO B.V.R. Subrahmanyam, the report noted the corporate bond market grew from Rs 17.5 trillion (FY15) to Rs 53.6 trillion (FY25) and could cross Rs 100-120 trillion by 2030.