lobal Peace Index 2025: An Analysis of Global Peacefulness and Rising Tensions

 

Introduction and Overview

  • Global Peace Index (GPI) 2025 is the 19th edition of the series, widely regarded as the primary  tool for assessing peace in countries worldwide.
  • Developed by the Institute for Economics and Peace (IEP), the GPI offers insightful understanding on the peacefulness status of 163 countries, covering almost the entire global population.
  • The GPI serves as a significant measure for global trends related to conflict, safety, and militarisation, especially critical amidst an increasing geopolitical instability.

 

What is the Global Peace Index?

  • The Global Peace Index is a yearly systematic analysis that measures peace based on 23 indicators across three main domains: societal safety and security, ongoing domestic and international conflict, and degree of militarisation.
  • This index is published by the Institute for Economics & Peace, an independent, non-partisan think tank based in Sydney.
  • Over years the GPI has gained significant respect and serves as a benchmark for governments, researchers, and organisations working towards sustainable peace and security reforms. 

 

Most Peaceful and Least Peaceful Countries in 2025

  • Despite prevalent global unrest, Countries such as Iceland, Ireland, New Zealand, Austria, and Switzerland rank top five in the most peaceful nations.
  • Iceland maintains its lead as the world's most peaceful country, which is attributed to low crime rates, stable politics, and absence of military forces. On the rank's lower end, Russia, followed by Ukraine, is found to be the least peaceful nations due to ongoing crises, war, sanctions, and internal political repression.

 

Detailed Analysis: India’s Performance

  • In the Global Peace Index 2025, India ranking 115th out of 163 nations, indicating an improvement in its GPI score reflecting a 0.58% improvement YoY.
  • Indian performance displays a gradual betterment over recent years, despite dealing with internal unrest, cross-border tensions, and militarisation.
  • Areas of noteworthy improvement for India include crime perception, political stability, and terrorist impact indicators.

   

Comparison: India vs. South Asia 

  • While South Asia emerges as the least peaceful region, India's performance outshines several regional neighbours such as Bangladesh, Pakistan, and Afghanistan.
  • Based on the index, India ranks better than Bangladesh, Pakistan, and Afghanistan, reflecting that the country's peace status is significantly better inside the region.

 

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Kerala Sahitya Akademi 2024 Literary Award Winners

 

Introduction and Overview

  • In 2024, Kerala Sahitya Akademi, the leading literary institution of Kerala, revealed its literary award winners.
  • These awards celebrate both emerging talents and veteran Malayalam literature writers. 
  • The range of awards cover various genres, including novels, poetry, drama, biography, and translation. 
  • The Akademi's objective is to promote the literary culture in Kerala through these awards.

 

 Recent Developments

  • The winners of the 2024 awards were formally declared on 26 June 2025 in Thrissur.
  • These awards not only recognise various outstanding contributions to Malayalam literature but hold considerable cultural significance.
  • They are recognised as one of the most esteemed recognitions in the Malayalam literary circle.

 

Key Awardees and Categories

  • The Best Novel award was given to G R Indugopan for Aano.
  • Anitha Thampi was recognised for her work in Poetry, Muringa Vazha Kariveppu.
  • The Short Story award went to V Shinilal for Garisappa Aruvi Athava Oru Jalayathra.
  • M Swaraj won the Sibi Kumar Endowment Award for best essay for Pookkalude Pusthakam.
  • Additional awards were given across genres such as Drama, Literary Criticism, Scientific Literature, Biography/Autobiography, Travel Writing, Translation, Children’s Literature, and Humour.

 

 Akademi Fellowship & Lifetime Contribution Awards

 

 Awards Details

  • Regular Awards include a ?25,000 cash prize, a plaque, and a certificate.
  • The Fellowship & Major Lifetime Awards comprise ?50,000, a two-sovereign gold medal, shawl, citation, and a plaque.
  • Other Lifetime Awards offer ?30,000, a plaque, shawl, and certificate.
  • Interestingly, there was no finalist selected for the Vilasini Award in the year 2024.

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State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World 2025: Global Hunger Trends and India's Nutrition Paradox

 

Current Global Hunger and Food Insecurity: SOFI 2025 Summary

  • SOFI 2025: 8.2% of the world population, or 673 million people, experienced hunger.
  • Hunger remains above pre- Covid-19 levels, signaling incomplete recovery.
  • By 2030, approximately 512 million people could remain chronically undernourished, almost 60% of which reside in Africa. 
  • 2.3 billion people globally remain moderately or severely food insecure.
  • The pandemic and the Ukraine war contributed to global food price inflation. 

 

Regional Hunger Statistics

Asia accounted for the highest number of undernourished people at 323 million, followed by Africa (307 million) and Latin America and the Caribbean (34 million).

 

India's Nutritional Challenges

  • About 12% of India’s population is undernourished (172 million people).
  • India still faces a high rate of malnutrition: Over 53.7% of women aged 15–49 in India suffer from anaemia.
  • India has the world’s highest child wasting rate (18.7%) with over 21 million children being affected. 

 

Causes of India’s Nutrition Paradox

  • Persistent poverty and inequality lead to malnutrition and food insecurity among socio-economically marginalized communities.
  • Lack of access to nutrient-rich food results in hidden hunger (micronutrient deficiency). 

 

India’s Plans to Tackle Food and Nutrition Security

  • India’s Public Distribution System (PDS) covers over 80 crore people, ensuring transparent food grain delivery. 
  • Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PMGKAY) offers 5 kg of free food grains per month to over 81.35 crore people.
  • POSHAN Abhiyaan targets malnutrition in women, children, and adolescents with over 10 crore beneficiaries by 2024.

 

Strategies for Tackling India’s Nutritional Paradox

  • Support farmer producer organisations and strengthen agricultural market information systems.
  • Encourage kitchen gardens and promote region-specific crops to improve dietary diversity.
  • Enhance strategies to combat anaemia among women.
  • Improve dietary diversity and protein access.
  • Monitor obesity levels and promote healthy lifestyles.

 

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Henley Passport Index 2025 Q2 - India's Rising Rank

 

Introduction and Basics of Henley Passport Index

  • The Henley Passport Index is an authoritative record that ranks 199 passports based on the extent of visa-free access to 227 destinations worldwide.
  • This ranking is derived from up-to-date information provided by the International Air Transport Association (IATA), corroborated, and released quarterly.
  • It primarily reflects the global mobility and ease of travel for the citizens of the listed nations.
  • The ranking is premised on the number of destinations passport holders can access without advance visa arrangements.

 

Indian Passport’s Spot in the Index

  • Indian passport feeds into the news due to its considerable leap in the Henley Passport Index 2025 Q2.
  • India is ranked 77th, pushing its position up from the previous 85th spot in the Q1 of the same year.
  • It indicates a noteworthy yet conservative enhancement in global mobility for the Indian citizens.
  • The actualization of this change is traced back to the addition of two more nations - the Philippines and Sri Lanka - to the list of places Indian passport holders could access without prior visa requirements.
  • This boost sees Indian passport holders now enjoy visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to a grand total of 59 worldwide destinations.

 

Comparative Position and Leading Nations

  • Singapore spearheads the chart with its citizens having the privilege to visit 193 countries without any pre-visa requirements.
  • The second and third holders sharing the top slots are Japan and South Korea with effortless access to 190 countries.
  • This arrangement of classification underlines the comparative global mobility of nations in terms of their reachable worldwide destinations.

 

About International Air Transport Association (IATA)

  • IATA’s importance is underlined as the data provider for the Henley Passport Index.
  • IATA, with its headquarters in Montreal, Canada, is an anchor trade body associated with 300 airlines encompassing an impressive 83% of global air traffic.
  • The data taken from IATA for the Henley Passport Index is extensive and reliable, providing comprehensive insights into the global aviation industry. 

 

Conclusion and Broader Implications

  • The Henley Passport Index serves as an insightful measure to understand international travel dynamics from a geo-political viewpoint.
  • The rise in India's rank reflects the strengthening of its global relations, manifesting in increased acceptance and ease of movement for its citizens.
  • Conversely, countries retaining top spots exemplify the ongoing strength of their global standing and diplomacy.



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Unified Payments Interface - Revamping India's Digital Payments 

 

Introduction and Overview of UPI

  • UPI is a real-time mobile payment system developed by National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI). 
  • It permits users to merge multiple bank accounts into a single application, making peer-to-peer and merchant transactions seamless.
  • The technology integrates the Immediate Payment Service (IMPS) and Aadhaar Enabled Payment System (AePS).
  • UPI also has a Unique Virtual Payment Address (VPA) that offers two-factor authentication, eliminating the need to enter bank details repeatedly.

 

UPI’s Impact on India's Digital Payment Ecosystem and Adoption

  • The UPI had processed Rs 24.03 lakh crore through 18.39 billion transactions as of June 2025.
  • The platform services 491 million users and 65 million merchants, connecting over 675 banks.
  • UPI has merged digital payments into daily life in India, offering instant 24/7 transactions and easy management of bank accounts via a single application. 
  • It holds the title for the world’s top real-time payment system, processing over 640 million daily transactions.

 

Interoperability and Financial Inclusion Promoted by UPI

  • Due to UPI, platform-agnostic payments have become possible, overcoming closed-loop system limitations.
  • UPI has made digital payments easier and more flexible, allowing transactions across various apps and banks.
  • The real-time transfers at zero-cost have allowed small vendors and first-time users to access digital payments.
  • The system has helped empower small stores and micro-businesses.

 

UPI's Global Reach and Diplomacy

  • UPI has extended its operations to 7 countries, including UAE, Singapore, Bhutan, Nepal, Sri Lanka, France, and Mauritius.
  • India is also pushing for UPI to be adopted across BRICS nations, boosting remittances and simplifying payments for Indians abroad.

 

The Digital Foundation Behind UPI's Success

  • UPI’s success is a result of rigorous investment in digital infrastructure, including the JAM trinity (Jan Dhan Yojana, Aadhaar, and Mobile connectivity) along with affordable internet.
  • The Jan Dhan Yojana initiative opened over 55.9 crore bank accounts as of mid-July 2025, facilitating direct benefit transfers.
  • Aadhaar, with over 142 crore numbers generated by June 2025, facilitated secure authentication and underpinned services like UPI.
  • Rapid improvement in connectivity has aided in making UPI the world’s top real-time payment system and a global model for digital finance.

 

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Reserve Bank of India's Proposed Financial Conditions Index

 

Introduction and Context

  • The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has proposed to implement a Financial Conditions Index (FCI) monitored on a daily basis.
  • This initiative is central to evaluating the health and wellbeing of India's financial market, offering crucial insights to policymakers and analysts.

 

FCI Objective and Definition

  • The ultimate aim of the FCI is to act as a centralised measure of financial conditions, reflecting variations from the norm since 2012, ranging from tight to easy.
  • Values produced by the FCI can be interpreted in standardised terms: positive numbers indicate tight financial conditions whilst negative numbers suggest easier conditions.

 

FCI Components 

  • The efficacy of the FCI is underpinned by its comprehensive approach, tracking a total of 20 financial market indicators.
  • The nature of these indicators is broad, covering elements of money markets, government securities (commonly referred to as G-Secs), corporate bonds, equities, and foreign exchange (Forex) markets.

 

Historical Trends and Significant Episodes

  • The RBI sample period depicted variability in financial conditions, from the tightest conditions in July 2013 (FCI value: 2.826) to the easiest conditions in June 2021 (FCI value: -2.197).
  • The notable spike in July 2013 was the result of a 'taper tantrum', an economic event characterised by sudden interest rate increases driven by investors fearing a reduction in the central bank's bond-buying scheme, also known as quantitative easing. 
  • Conversely, the comfortable financial conditions experienced in June 2021 were largely driven by the infusion of liquidity measures by the RBI in the aftermath of the Covid-19 pandemic.

 

Significance of the FCI Initiative

  • The implementation of the FCI stands testament to India's dedication to fostering indigenous research within the macro-financial sector.
  • More importantly, it contributes significantly to real-time policy planning, facilitating a more effective response to future financial phenomena.

 

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Global Wetland Outlook 2025

 

Introduction and About

  • The Global Wetland Outlook (GWO) 2025, released by the Secretariat of the Ramsar Convention (1971), locates Africa’s wetlands as among the world's most degraded.
  • The Ramsar Convention Secretariat, located in Gland, Switzerland, receives administrative services from the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) to assist its member countries.

 

Key Takeaways from Global Wetland Outlook 2025

  • Global Wetland Coverage: Wetlands cover over 1,800 million hectares globally, including various ecosystems. Nevertheless, uncertainty persists due to inconsistent methods and gaps in historical data.
  • Wetland Loss and Degradation: The world has experienced approximately 22% global decline in wetlands since 1970, mainly impacting Africa, Latin America, Caribbean sector and LDCs.
  • Value of Wetlands: They provide essential ecosystem services, contributing to disaster protection, carbon storage, water filtration, and cultural value. Over 60% of GDP in some African countries comes from nature-based sectors.
  • Wetland Funding Gap: Currently, biodiversity funding is extremely low to meet the needs.
  • Recommendations: Urgent calls for action to restore degraded ecosystems and conserve land, waters, and seas to a substantial extent. Additional resources and investments are needed for this.

 

Wetlands Information 

  • Wetlands are defined as areas of marsh, peatland, water natural or artificial, that may be fresh, brackish, or salty, including shallow marine areas. Human-made wetlands, Lakes and Ponds, River Floodplains, Oxbow Lakes, Marshes, Estuaries and Swamps are major types of wetlands.
  • The ecosystem services of wetlands include water purification, storm and flood control, erosion control, wildlife habitat, high productivity and education.

 

Status and Conservation Efforts of Wetlands in India

  • As of August 2024, India has the highest wetland coverage in South Asia with 1,307 identified wetlands covering over 1.35 million hectares.
  • India ratified the Ramsar Convention in 1982, and now has 91 Ramsar Sites, reflecting its ongoing commitment to wetland conservation.
  • The Wetlands of India Portal was launched in 2021, offering public access to data on wetland conservation.
  • Other initiatives include the National Wetland Decadal Change Atlas, the Amrit Dharohar Scheme, and the integration of conservation efforts with the Namami Gange project.
  • To commemorate the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands adoption, World Wetlands Day is observed on 2nd February each year.

 

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India as Fourth ‘Most Equal’ Country Globally 

 

Introduction and Current Status 

  • India, the fourth-largest economy worldwide, is now recognised as the fourth most equal society, as per the World Bank's Gini Index, with a rank of 25.5. 
  • This rank places India in the 'moderately low inequality' category and above countries such as the US and China, known for their higher inequality scores.

 

Understanding the Gini Index

  • The Gini Index, or the Gini Coefficient, developed in 1912 by Italian statistician Corrado Gini, measures income inequality in a society. 
  • The values on this index vary between 0 and 1 (or 0 and 100 when shown as percentages), where 0 indicates perfect equality, and 1 or 100 signals maximum inequality. 
  • The Lorenz curve influences this index, which involves plotting the cumulative percentage of total income against the percentage of recipients, starting from the poorest.

 

India's Journey with the Gini Index

  • Since 2011, India’s Gini Index score dropped from 28.8 to 25.5 in 2022, indicating a steady improvement in social equity. 
  • India now ranks more equal than all countries included in the G7 and G20, defying many conventional perceptions of India as a highly unequal society. 
  • This improvement exemplifies the broad-based income growth in the country, especially among lower-income brackets.

 

Driving Forces Behind India's Equity Success – Poverty Reduction and Welfare Schemes

  • Since 2011, extreme poverty in India dropped significantly, with about 171 million people lifted above the global extreme poverty threshold, revised to USD 3/day, considering inflation. 
  • India's advancements in social equity have been propelled by several welfare schemes, such as the PM Jan Dhan Yojana, Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT), Ayushman Bharat, Stand-Up India, Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PMGKAY), and PM Vishwakarma Yojana.
  • These schemes address various aspects such as financial inclusion, health coverage, welfare payments, aimed at the disadvantaged communities, ensuring welfare reaches the right person at the right time through reliable authentication.

 

Challenges and Structural Concerns

  • Despite the low inequality index, over 300 million people in India continue to live in poverty, raising questions about the longevity of improvements in equality.
  • Disparities in wages and income persist, revealing deep income and wealth inequality not accurately reflected in the Gini Index.
  • The country's outdated poverty line, based on the Rangarajan Committee’s estimation in 2014, might not reflect the current cost-of-living realities.
  • Inequalities continue to exist in areas such as education, healthcare, digital access, and employment, especially for rural populations, women, SCs/STs, and informal workers, limiting resultant equality despite improvements in consumption.

 

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2nd Edition of the North Eastern Region District Sustainable Development Goals Index

 

Introduction and About

  • The North Eastern Region (NER) District Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) Index is a comprehensive tool that tracks district-level advancement on chosen SDG indicators. It was collaboratively developed by NITI Aayog, the Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region (MoDoNER), and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). 
  • It monitors the progress of 121 out of 131 districts across the eight Northeastern states, which accounts for 92% of the districts. 
  • The districts are placed into four categories: Achiever, Front Runner, Performer, and Aspirant, according to their composite scores. 

 

Findings of the 2023-24 Edition

  • The second edition of the NER District SDG Index for 2023-24 shows that 85% of the NER districts fall under the Front Runner category, a substantial increase from 62% in the previous edition.
  • All districts in Mizoram, Sikkim, and Tripura have achieved Front Runner status with no districts in the Aspirant or Achiever categories.
  • The highest-scoring district in the entire NER is Hnahthial in Mizoram with a score of 81.43 while the lowest-scoring district in the region is Longding in Arunachal Pradesh with a score of 58.71.
  • Sikkim displays the most consistent performance across its districts with a point range of only 5.5.

 

Importance of the NER District SDG Index

  • The NER District SDG Index assists in evidence-based planning and resource allocation, identifying development gaps, guiding targeted interventions, ensuring efficient resource deployment, and supporting the localisation of SDGs through a cooperative federalism approach.
  • It aligns national development programmes with local needs to achieve more focused and effective outcomes.
  • The initiative collaborates with states, NITI Aayog, and MoDoNER to foster sustainable and inclusive development in the region, aligning with India’s broader Viksit Bharat @2047 vision.

 

NITI Aayog’s National SDG Index

  • The National SDG Index tracks states’ and Union Territories' progress on 16 Sustainable Development Goals using 113 indicators aligned with the National Indicator Framework. SDG Goal 14, Life Below Water, is not included in the calculation of the Composite Score for the Index as it applies only to the nine coastal states.
  • The Index categories states and UTs into Aspirants, Performers, Front-Runners, and Achievers, with scores reflecting progress toward India's 2030 SDG targets and the vision of Viksit Bharat @2047.

 

SDG India Index for 2023-24

  • India's SDG score climb up to 71, a substantial increase from 66 in 2020-21 and 57 in 2018, driven by gains in poverty reduction, economic growth, and climate action.
  • Kerala and Uttarakhand emerged as top performers with scores of 79 while Bihar (57) and Jharkhand (62) were the lowest performers.
  • Goal 13 (Climate Action) score increased from 54 to 67, and Goal 1 (No Poverty) improved from 60 to 72, with Goals 1, 8, and 13 now falling under the Front Runner category.

 

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Swachh Survekshan 2024-25 Awards

 

Introduction and Purpose of Swachh Survekshan

  • These awards are an annual event hosted by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA) in New Delhi.
  • The President of India conferred the 9th edition of these Awards. 
  • The Swachh Survekshan is the world’s largest urban sanitation and cleanliness survey, conducted since 2016 under Swachh Bharat Mission–Urban (SBM-U).
  • The objective of this mission is to foster citizen participation, generate awareness on sanitation, and promote competitive federalism through performance benchmarking.

 

Key Updates of Swachh Survekshan 2024-25 Awards  

  • A new category, Super Swachh League (SSL) Cities, is introduced to acknowledge cities like Indore, which has been ranked No. 1 for seven consecutive years.
  • This year saw the introduction of city classification based on population for a fair comparison and targeted improvement across Urban Local Bodies (ULBs).
  • There has been a restructuring of award categories based on the city sizes, divided into Very Small Cities, Small Cities, Medium Cities, Big Cities and Million Plus Cities.
  • The launch of school-level assessments is also notable, aiming to instil cleanliness values among the youth.
  • A new theme was introduced for the year 2025: “Reduce, Reuse, Recycle (3R)”, in alignment with the Jaipur Declaration.

 

Special Recognitions and Initiatives

  • Special Initiative of Swachh Mahakumbh 2025: Prayagraj was recognized for its waste management approach during the Mahakumbh 2025.
  • Cleanest Ganga Town was awarded to Prayagraj.
  • The cities of Visakhapatnam, Jabalpur, and Gorakhpur were recognized with Safaimitra Surakshit Shehar Awards for ensuring the safety and dignity of sanitation workers. 
  • Secunderabad Cantonment was declared the Cleanest Cantonment Board.
  • 35 cities across 33 States/UTs were recognized as “Promising Swachh Shehar” for their notable progress in urban sanitation.

 

About Swachh Bharat Mission (SBM)

  • Launched in October 2014, the SBM is a nationwide cleanliness drive, divided into SBM-Gramin and SBM-Urban.
  • The mission’s initial goal was to make India Open Defecation Free (ODF) by 2nd October 2019.
  • The Phase-II (SBM-Gramin) launched in 2020–21 aimed to achieve ODF Plus status by 2024–25 through solid and liquid waste management in rural areas.
  • SBM-Urban 2.0, introduced in 2021, focuses on garbage-free cities, faecal sludge and plastic waste management, greywater treatment, and capacity building to sustain urban sanitation outcomes.

 

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United Nations Sustainable Development Goals Index 2025

 

Introduction and About

  • The United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) Index is a global ranking that aims to provide a measure of the countries' progress towards the 17 Sustainable Development Goals outlined by the United Nations.
  • The index represents a key tool in evaluating a country's commitment towards ensuring quality education, maintaining gender equality, taking climate action, and upholding peace and justice.

 

UN SDG Index 2025 Top 10 countries

  • European countries, particularly the Nordic nations, continue to pave the way for sustainable development globally.
  • The top 3 countries in the SDG index 2025 are Finland, Sweden, and Denmark with scores of 87.0, 85.7, and 85.3 respectively.
  • Other countries making it to the top rankings are Germany, France, Austria, Norway, Croatia, Poland, and Czechia.

 

UN SDG Index 2025 Bottom 10 countries

  • Countries that are plagued by conflict, political instability, and economic challenges find themselves at the lower end of the SDG index 2025.
  • The countries with the lowest rankings are South Sudan, Central African Republic, Chad, Somalia, Yemen, Congo, Sudan, Afghanistan, Niger, and Madagascar.

 

India's Historic Leap in the UN SDG Index Rankings

  • India's remarkable improvement lands the country into the top 100 of the SDG index for the first time with a score of 67 in 2025.
  • The steady climb in rankings is a testament to India's growing focus on sustainable development, particularly driving initiatives in clean energy, digital public infrastructure, and financial inclusion.
  • The country's rank has significantly improved from 120th in 2021, 121st in 2022, 112th in 2023 to 109th in 2024, and finally breaking into top 100 in 2025.

 

India in Regional Comparison

  • Despite entering the top 100 globally, India lags behind a few South Asian countries like Maldives, Bhutan, and Nepal.
  • Other regional peers include Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, and Pakistan who are ranked at various positions on the index.
  • This juxtaposition showcases the steady progress made by India but also highlights the challenges that lie ahead in terms of sustainable development.