What is the news-

• India was ranked 126th out of 143 nations in the World Happiness Report 2024, a global happiness index which was released, March 20 to mark the UN’s International Day of Happiness.

About the World Happiness Report

• The WHR is an annual publication of the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network.
• It is released in partnership by Gallup, the Oxford Wellbeing Research Centre, the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN), and the World Happiness Report’s Editorial Board
• It measures three main well-being indicators: life evaluations, positive emotions, and negative emotions (described in the report as positive and negative affect).
• The report considers six key factors: social support, income, health, freedom, generosity, and the absence of corruption.
• It was adopted by the UN General Assembly based on a resolution tabled by Bhutan.

Key Highlights of the 2024 Report

• Top: For the seventh successive year, Finland topped the list of the happiest countries in the world.
• Runner-ups: The other countries in the top ten were Denmark, Iceland, Sweden, Israel, the Netherlands, Norway, Luxembourg, Switzerland and Australia.
• Bottom: Afghanistan was at the bottom of the list.

Indian Scenario

• Ranking: India maintains its position at 126th in the happiness index. Surprisingly, it is behind Pakistan, Libya, Iraq, Palestine and Niger.
• Neighbourhood: China was ranked 60th, Nepal at 93, Pakistan at 108, Myanmar at 118, Sri Lanka at 128 and Bangladesh at 129th spots.
• Influencing Factors: Marital status, social engagement, physical health, and satisfaction with living arrangements influence life satisfaction among older Indians.
• Gendered Happiness: Older Indian women tend to report higher life satisfaction despite facing more stressors and health challenges.
• Key Predictors: Factors like education level, social caste, social support, perceived discrimination, and self-rated health significantly impact life satisfaction among older Indians.

PYQ:

2018: “Rule of Law Index” is released by which of the following?

1. Amnesty International
2. International Court of Justice
3. The Office of UN Commissioner for Human Rights
4. World Justice Project

Practice MCQ:

With reference to the World Happiness Report, 2024, consider the following statements:

1. The report is an annual publication of the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network.
2. It was adopted by the UN General Assembly based on a resolution tabled by Bhutan.
3. India’s ranking has been consistently improved in this report in last two years.

How many of the given statements is/are correct?

1. One
2. Two
3. Three
4. None

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