There is no denying that the world is not a very friendly place these days. Whether it be on a global front, or even here in India, it seems every region is battling its own problems, whether it be the economy, social unrest, cruel government, violation of human rights, unchecked and dangerous advancements in technology or more.
The recently released World Economic Forum’s (WEF) Global Risks Report 2026 is timely, as it highlights new risks that the world and this country must be aware of.
Understanding the varied threats highlighted in the report is essential to designing strategies that can protect economic stability, safeguard public welfare, and reinforce resilience in an unpredictable global landscape.
What Does The WEF Report Say?
The Global Risks Report 2026 was published by the World Economic Forum on January 14 and is based on the perceptions of over 1,300 global experts and decision-makers.
The report analyses global risks as well as risks for individual countries based on three time-frames, including “current or immediate term (in 2026), the short-to-medium term (to 2028) and in the long term (to 2036).” On a global scale, ‘uncertainty’ seems to be the biggest risk that spans both short-term and long-term.
According to the study, “50% of respondents anticipate either a turbulent or stormy outlook over the next two years, deteriorating to 57% of respondents over the next 10 years.”
Another 40% and 32% believe that the global risk situation will be unsettled, and only a mere 1% think peace could take place any time soon. Geoeconomic confrontation has been “selected as the top risk most likely to trigger a material global crisis in 2026 by 18% of respondents, increasing two positions from last year.”
This risk is also not just limited to 2026, with many participants believing it should be something to look out for for the next two years as well. Following geoeconomic confrontation, state-based armed conflict remains a major concern.
Though armed conflict ranked second in immediate risk terms, the rapid rise of economic conflicts underscores a complex interplay between economics and geopolitics in shaping global instability.
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For India, the report lists cybersecurity as the top risk, followed by income and wealth inequality. The reports that these risks would be followed by “insufficient public services and social protections, economic downturn and State-based armed conflict.”
Further, the report believes that India’s economy remains sensitive to global disruptions. Tariffs, supply chain interruptions, inflationary pressures and external demand shocks could slow growth, affecting jobs and investment flows in today’s global economy.
Besides these issues, the report highlights that technology-mediated misinformation or disinformation as a risk has risen high in short-term risk rankings and could affect social cohesion and democratic processes.
Environmental risks were also brought up. Though they might have slightly fallen in short-term urgency compared with economic and geopolitical risks, climate impacts remain persistently severe. They are projected as the most serious long-term threat over the next decade.
The report also brought up the issue of monopoly and rising living costs, writing, “As wealth continues to concentrate in the hands of a few, while cost of living pressures remain high, permanently K-shaped economies are becoming a risk, calling the social contract and its financing into question.”
Image Credits: Google Images
Sources: The Guardian, The Hindu, CNBC
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