Why in the News?

India has ranked 115th in the Global Peace Index, 2025 published by the Institute for Economics and Peace (IEP).

About Global Peace Index (GPI):

Publisher: Released annually by the Institute for Economics and Peace (IEP), Sydney.
Coverage: Ranks 163 countries/territories, representing 99.7% of world population.
Indicators: Based on 23 metrics grouped under three domains:
- Societal Safety & Security (crime, terrorism, political stability).
- Domestic & International Conflicts.
- Degree of Militarisation (defence spending, arms imports, personnel).
Launch: First published in 2007; now a key global benchmark for peace, stability, and security.

Top 10: Iceland (1st), Ireland, New Zealand, Finland, Austria, Switzerland, Singapore, Portugal, Denmark, Slovenia.
India’s Position: Ranked 115th (score 2.229), an improvement from 116th in 2024 (+0.58%).
Neighbour Comparison:
- Pakistan – 144th (much lower).
- Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh – higher than India, reflecting stronger peace metrics.
Least Peaceful: Russia, Ukraine, Sudan, DR Congo, Yemen, hit by wars, humanitarian crises, and instability.
Regional Insights:
- Europe dominates top ranks.
- Singapore is only Asian country in top 10.
- South America shows gains (Argentina, Peru).
- South Asia, Middle East, Africa remain volatile.

[UPSC 2023] Consider the following pairs:

1. North Kivu and Ituri: War between Armenia and Azerbaijan

2. Nagorno-Karabakh: Insurgency in Mozambique

3. Kherson and Zaporizhzhia: Dispute between Israel and Lebanon

How many of the above pairs are correctly matched?

Options: (a) Only one (b) Only two (c) All three (d) None*