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The Global Competitiveness Report is published by the
Explanation
The Global Competitiveness Report is published by the World Economic Forum.[1] This report assesses the competitiveness landscape of countries across various parameters including infrastructure, innovation, and macroeconomic stability. The 2019 edition of this report ranked India first along with seven other nations on airport connectivity.[1]
The other options are incorrect as they represent different international organizations with their own flagship publications. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) publishes reports like the World Economic Outlook, while the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) publishes reports on trade and development issues. The World Bank focuses on development indicators and poverty statistics. Therefore, option C - World Economic Forum - is the correct answer.
Sources- [1] Indian Economy, Nitin Singhania .(ed 2nd 2021-22) > Chapter 15: Infrastructure > Civil Aviation > p. 457
PROVENANCE & STUDY PATTERN
Full viewThis is a 'must-know' category. Every year, 1-2 questions appear on Reports/Indices. If you get this wrong, you are falling behind the crowd. No conceptual depth required, just a clean memory of the 'Organization-Report' table.
This question can be broken into the following sub-statements. Tap a statement sentence to jump into its detailed analysis.
- Explicitly refers to the 'Global Competitiveness Report 2019 of World Economic Forum'.
- Links the Global Competitiveness Report with the World Economic Forum in a factual context about rankings.
- Identifies the World Economic Forum as the publisher of major global indices (e.g., Global Gender Gap Index), showing WEF's role in producing global reports.
- Provides supporting context that WEF issues internationally recognised indices and reports, consistent with publishing the Global Competitiveness Report.
- [THE VERDICT]: Sitter. Directly covered in standard Economy books (Nitin Singhania Ch. 15/18) and every major Current Affairs compilation.
- [THE CONCEPTUAL TRIGGER]: International Economic Organizations and their annual publications.
- [THE HORIZONTAL EXPANSION]: Memorize the 'Big Three' distinctions: IMF (World Economic Outlook, Global Financial Stability); World Bank (World Development Report, Global Economic Prospects); WEF (Global Gender Gap, Global Risks, Energy Transition Index).
- [THE STRATEGIC METACOGNITION]: Do not rely on vague recall. Make a 3-column table: [Organization] - [Report Name] - [What it measures]. Confusing 'Global Economic Prospects' (WB) with 'World Economic Outlook' (IMF) is the most common trap.
World Economic Forum issues global indices and reports that rank countries on competitiveness and gaps.
High-yield for UPSC because questions often ask which international body issues a given global ranking or report; mastering this avoids confusion with IMF/World Bank publications and links to questions on economic governance and policy benchmarking.
- Indian Economy, Nitin Singhania .(ed 2nd 2021-22) > Chapter 15: Infrastructure > Civil Aviation > p. 457
- Indian Economy, Nitin Singhania .(ed 2nd 2021-22) > Chapter 2: Economic Growth versus Economic Development > CHAPTER SUMMARY > p. 29
Different organisations publish signature reports: IMF issues the World Economic Outlook, World Bank issues Global Economic Prospects, and WEF issues the Global Competitiveness Report.
Essential for answer-writing and MCQ accuracy; helps quickly eliminate distractors by associating report themes (macroeconomic forecasts vs competitiveness vs poverty) with the correct institution.
- Indian Economy, Nitin Singhania .(ed 2nd 2021-22) > Chapter 18: International Economic Institutions > World Economic Outlook (WEO) > p. 519
- Indian Economy, Nitin Singhania .(ed 2nd 2021-22) > Chapter 18: International Economic Institutions > Global Economic Prospects Report > p. 527
- Indian Economy, Nitin Singhania .(ed 2nd 2021-22) > Chapter 15: Infrastructure > Civil Aviation > p. 457
Competitiveness, gender gap and happiness are distinct indices/reports issued by specific global actors and reflect varied policy dimensions.
Useful for linking index results to policy discussions in essays and prelims/CSAT, and for recognising question patterns asking 'who publishes which index' or 'what an index measures'.
- Indian Economy, Nitin Singhania .(ed 2nd 2021-22) > Chapter 2: Economic Growth versus Economic Development > CHAPTER SUMMARY > p. 29
Since WEF is the answer here, the next logical target is the 'Global Gender Gap Report' (also WEF) or the 'Global Financial Stability Report' (IMF). Watch out for the 'World Employment and Social Outlook'—that's ILO, not WEF.
Analyze the mandate: IMF = Monetary stability/BoP. World Bank = Development/Poverty. UNCTAD = Trade stats. WEF = Public-Private cooperation and business efficiency. 'Competitiveness' is a business-centric term, fitting WEF's corporate-heavy profile perfectly.
In Mains GS-3 (Economy), cite this report when discussing 'Make in India' or PLI schemes. Arguing that 'India needs to improve its rank in the Global Competitiveness Index by fixing logistics' adds authoritative weight to your answer.