According to the Global Cities Index 2025 by Oxford Economics, which two cities retained their top positions?

Correct — B. Oxford Economics' Global Cities Index 2025 places New York first and London second.

The stem's word 'retained' points back to the previous edition, where the same two cities held the same two places → option (b).

Why the others are wrong

• (a)
  Tokyo and Beijing — Tokyo and Beijing are not the top pair. This index scores five categories rather than size, and it is led by New York with London second.
• (c)
  Paris and Rome — Paris and Rome are not the top pair. Neither city holds first or second place in the 2025 index, which New York leads with London behind it.
• (d)
  Berlin and Moscow — Berlin and Moscow are not the top pair. New York holds first place and London second in the 2025 index.

The Global Cities Index by the consultancy Oxford Economics ranks the world's 1,000 largest urban economies.

It scores cities in five categories, Economics, Human Capital, Quality of Life, Environment and Governance, so it measures more than size or output.

For any current-affairs index, fix three things: who publishes it, what it measures, and who tops it.

Key facts

• The Global Cities Index is published by Oxford Economics.
• It covers the world's 1,000 largest urban economies.
• Its five categories are Economics, Human Capital, Quality of Life, Environment and Governance.
• In the 2025 index New York ranks first and London second.

Common traps

• Confusing Oxford Economics' index with Kearney's Global Cities Index, which shares the name but not the method.
• Picking a pair on population alone: this index scores five categories, not size.

No directly related past PYQ was found.