UPSC Reports and Indices MCQs: Who Publishes What (Prelims Practice Paper)

This UPSC Prelims practice paper on reports and indices has 15 questions on "who publishes what", one of the most repeated areas of current affairs. Every year, the UPSC asks about international reports, global indices and national surveys, and the question is usually simple if you know the publisher and the idea behind the index. Each answer has a short explanation, and the sections after the answer key give a quick table, memory tricks and a revision plan.

Why Reports and Indices Are Important for UPSC

Reports and indices appear in the news every month, so they are a bridge between current affairs and static subjects. A question can be direct, such as "Which organisation publishes this index?", or it can be a statement type asking what the index measures. These topics also give you facts and data to use in Mains answers on poverty, hunger, gender, environment and governance. A one-page table of reports with the publisher, the factors and the latest India position helps you answer them in seconds.

Instructions

• Total questions: 15. Suggested time: 15 minutes.
• Each correct answer gives 2 marks and each wrong answer deducts 0.66 marks, as in the real Prelims.
• Attempt all the questions first and check the answer key only after you finish.

Practice Questions

Q1. The Global Hunger Index is published by
(a) UNDP
(b) Concern Worldwide and Welthungerhilfe
(c) FAO
(d) World Bank

Q2. The Human Development Index (HDI) is released by
(a) World Bank
(b) World Economic Forum
(c) UNDP
(d) International Monetary Fund

Q3. The Global Gender Gap Report is published by
(a) UN Women
(b) World Economic Forum
(c) World Bank
(d) UNESCO

Q4. The World Press Freedom Index is published by
(a) Freedom House
(b) UNESCO
(c) Reporters Without Borders
(d) Amnesty International

Q5. The Corruption Perceptions Index is published by
(a) Transparency International
(b) World Bank
(c) OECD
(d) Interpol

Q6. The Global Innovation Index is released by
(a) World Trade Organization
(b) World Intellectual Property Organization
(c) UNCTAD
(d) OECD

Q7. The SDG India Index is prepared by
(a) NITI Aayog
(b) Ministry of Statistics
(c) Reserve Bank of India
(d) Finance Commission

Q8. Which institution published the Ease of Doing Business rankings until the report was discontinued in 2021?
(a) International Monetary Fund
(b) World Trade Organization
(c) World Bank
(d) Asian Development Bank

Q9. The Economic Survey of India is prepared by
(a) NITI Aayog
(b) Reserve Bank of India
(c) Department of Economic Affairs, Ministry of Finance
(d) Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation

Q10. The Global Peace Index is published by
(a) SIPRI
(b) Institute for Economics and Peace
(c) United Nations Security Council
(d) Amnesty International

Q11. The Global Multidimensional Poverty Index is released by
(a) World Bank and IMF
(b) UNDP and OPHI
(c) WHO and UNICEF
(d) NITI Aayog and UNDP

Q12. The Logistics Performance Index is published by
(a) World Economic Forum
(b) World Trade Organization
(c) World Bank
(d) IMF

Q13. The Environmental Performance Index is compiled by
(a) UNEP
(b) Yale and Columbia universities
(c) IPCC
(d) WWF

Q14. The World Happiness Report is published by
(a) UNICEF
(b) UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network
(c) OECD
(d) World Health Organization

Q15. The World Economic Outlook is a report of the
(a) World Bank
(b) International Monetary Fund
(c) OECD
(d) World Trade Organization

Answer Key with Explanations

1. Q1: (b) It is an annual report brought out by Concern Worldwide and Welthungerhilfe. It scores countries on four indicators: undernourishment, child stunting, child wasting and child mortality.
2. Q2: (c) The UNDP releases the HDI. It combines health (life expectancy), education (schooling) and standard of living (income per capita).
3. Q3: (b) The World Economic Forum (WEF) publishes it. It measures the gap between men and women in economic participation, education, health and political empowerment.
4. Q4: (c) Reporters Without Borders (RSF), which is based in Paris, ranks countries on press freedom every year.
5. Q5: (a) Transparency International, a Berlin-based non-governmental organisation, publishes the index. It ranks countries by the perceived level of public sector corruption.
6. Q6: (b) WIPO, a specialised agency of the UN headquartered in Geneva, publishes the Global Innovation Index.
7. Q7: (a) NITI Aayog prepares the SDG India Index to measure the progress of states and Union Territories on the Sustainable Development Goals.
8. Q8: (c) The World Bank published the rankings but discontinued them in 2021 after data irregularities were found.
9. Q9: (c) It is prepared by the Economic Division of the Department of Economic Affairs under the Chief Economic Adviser and is tabled in Parliament before the Union Budget.
10. Q10: (b) The Institute for Economics and Peace (IEP) publishes the Global Peace Index. The same institute also publishes the Global Terrorism Index.
11. Q11: (b) The global MPI is released by UNDP with the Oxford Poverty and Human Development Initiative (OPHI). It looks at health, education and living standards.
12. Q12: (c) The World Bank publishes the Logistics Performance Index, which measures trade logistics such as customs, infrastructure and shipment tracking.
13. Q13: (b) Researchers at Yale University and Columbia University prepare the index, which ranks countries on climate action, health and ecosystem vitality.
14. Q14: (b) The UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN) publishes the report using survey data and factors like income, social support and freedom.
15. Q15: (b) The IMF releases the World Economic Outlook twice a year, with growth forecasts for the world and for individual countries.

Quick Table: Important Reports and Their Publishers

How to Remember Publishers: Group Them

Do not learn the reports one by one. Make four groups and attach each report to the group. The UN family includes UNDP (HDI, Multidimensional Poverty Index with OPHI), UNEP (Emissions Gap Report), UNCTAD (World Investment Report) and ILO (employment reports). The World Bank family includes the Logistics Performance Index, the Global Economic Prospects report and the Findex database. The WEF family includes the Global Gender Gap Report and the Travel and Tourism Development Index. The NGO and university family includes Transparency International, Reporters Without Borders, Yale and Columbia universities, and the Institute for Economics and Peace. The Indian family includes NITI Aayog (SDG India Index, India Innovation Index, Health Index) and the Ministry of Finance (Economic Survey).

What to Note for Every Report

1. Publisher and frequency: Is it yearly or twice a year?
2. Parameters: Learn the factors, because statement questions often ask what is included.
3. Latest India rank or score: Check the newest edition from a trusted current affairs source and write it in your notes with the year.
4. Top and bottom performers: Remember one or two countries or states at the top.

Tricks for Solving Reports and Indices Questions

• Match the topic to the organisation: A report on trade and logistics is likely from the World Bank, while a report on women is likely from the WEF or UN Women.
• Remember the headquarters: UNDP is in New York, WIPO and WEF in Geneva, Transparency International in Berlin and RSF in Paris. Locations give cues in elimination.
• Use the elimination logic: Remove the options that are not in the field. For example, the IMF does not publish a gender report.

How to Prepare This Topic in One Week

Spend one hour a day. On Day 1 and 2, copy the table in your own words and learn the groups. On Day 3 and 4, read the key points of the latest reports from the news. On Day 5, solve this paper again without looking at the key. On Day 6 and 7, revise and add one new index each day. For more revision, see our economy notes and the guide on how to prepare current affairs.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Confusing the agencies: Mixing WEF and World Bank, or UNDP and UNEP, is the most common error.
• Using old data: Ranks and scores change every year, so note the year with every number.
• Ignoring the methodology: The UPSC often asks what the index includes, not only who publishes it.
• Learning without testing: Reading the table many times is not enough; solve questions to confirm your memory.

After this test, count your correct answers, write the mistakes in a log, and take another set within a week. You can also solve the GS Paper 1 mock test to check your overall level.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Which reports and indices are important for UPSC Prelims?

The Human Development Index, Global Hunger Index, Global Gender Gap Report, World Press Freedom Index, Corruption Perceptions Index, Global Innovation Index and SDG India Index are among the most important.

Who publishes the Human Development Index?

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) publishes the Human Development Index.

Who publishes the Global Hunger Index?

The Global Hunger Index is published by Concern Worldwide and Welthungerhilfe.

Which organisation publishes the Global Gender Gap Report?

The World Economic Forum publishes the Global Gender Gap Report.

Who publishes the Corruption Perceptions Index?

Transparency International publishes the Corruption Perceptions Index.

Which body prepares the SDG India Index?

NITI Aayog prepares the SDG India Index to rank states and Union Territories on the Sustainable Development Goals.

Why was the Ease of Doing Business report discontinued?

The World Bank discontinued it in 2021 after data irregularities were found in some editions.

How many questions on reports and indices come in the UPSC Prelims?

There is no fixed number, but a few questions on reports, indices and organisations are usually asked each year, so the topic is worth preparing.

How can I remember who publishes which index?

Group the reports under the UN, the World Bank, the World Economic Forum, NGOs and Indian bodies, and revise them with a table every week.

Should I learn the latest India rank in each index?

Yes, but always note the year with the rank. Check the latest edition from a reliable current affairs source, because ranks change every year.

Which report is published by the IMF?

The IMF publishes the World Economic Outlook, the Global Financial Stability Report and the Fiscal Monitor.

Are reports and indices useful for the Mains exam?

Yes. They give data and examples for answers on poverty, hunger, gender, environment, governance and development.