What is India's rank in the 2024 Global Nature Conservation Index (NCI) developed by the Goldman Sonnenfeldt School of Sustainability and Climate Change at Ben-Gurion University and BioDB.com, a biodiversity database?

### Concept & Fact Check The question tests current affairs knowledge regarding global environmental indices and India's specific standing in international sustainability rankings. ### Step-by-Step Solution * **Given:** The 2024 Global Nature Conservation Index (NCI) evaluates country-level biodiversity conservation efforts. * **Fact Check:** India was ranked 176th out of 180 countries in the 2024 NCI, scoring particularly low in land management and species protection categories. * **Conclusion:** The correct rank assigned to India is 176th. ### Exam Strategy & Shortcut For current affairs questions regarding indices, use spaced repetition to memorize the trinity of information: Year (2024), Index Name (NCI), and Rank (176). ### Common Pitfall A common mistake is confusing this specific index with the Environmental Performance Index (EPI), where India also frequently ranks at the very bottom (e.g., 180th in 2022). ### Final Answer Therefore, the correct answer is **176th**.