Museums offer us a window into humanity’s past, allowing us to journey through different eras by observing the objects they preserve. The paintings, sculptures, tools, and artefacts on display tell stories of human evolution, the cultures that once thrived, and the heritage passed down by our ancestors.

From the age of cave dwellers to the Indus Valley Civilisation and now to the era of artificial intelligence, museums reflect humankind’s timeless desire to create, innovate, and preserve the extraordinary.

Yet, alongside the passion to create and collect, there also emerged a darker impulse, the pursuit of profit and possession. This greed has led to the theft, looting, and illicit trafficking of countless cultural treasures, depriving communities of their heritage and history.

India registered 2.52 crore births in 2023, around 2.32 lakh fewer than in 2022, the Vital Statistics of India based on Civil Registration System (CRS) report for the year 2023 shows.

The report, compiled by the Registrar General of India (RGI) and released on Monday (October 13, 2025), stated that 86.6 lakh deaths were registered in 2023, a marginal increase from 86.5 lakh deaths in 2022.

The report shows that there was no major spike in deaths in 2022 and 2023, despite the COVID-19 dashboard maintained by the Health Ministry showing that the total number of pandemic-induced deaths stood at 5,33,665 as on May 5, 2025. However, there was a significant rise in deaths in 2021, the second-year of COVID-19 lockdown, which recorded an excess of 21 lakh deaths from the 2020 count. There were 81.2 lakh deaths in 2020 and 102.2 lakh in 2021.

India's wild elephant population has been estimated at 22,446, lower than the 2017 figure of 27,312, according to the country's first-ever DNA-based count.

The All-India Synchronous Elephant Estimation (SAIEE) 2025 puts India's elephant population between 18,255 and 26,645, with an average of 22,446.

The government released the long-delayed report on Tuesday, nearly four years after the survey began in 2021.

Officials said the delay was due to the complex genetic analysis and data validation involved in the exercise.

Humanity has reached its first climate tipping point, marking the checkpoint as the planet continues to warm as a direct result of climate change.

The sobering development was highlighted by a landmark study led by a collaboration amongst the University of Exeter and other partners around the globe.

The study announces a clear warning: humanity has entered a “new reality”, crossing the first of many Earth system tipping points, with coral reefs now irreversibly destabilised.

The report was published ahead of COP30, the annual United Nations climate talks, slated to take place in Brazil this year. The event is expected to provide a platform for global lawmakers, climate activists and leaders, congregating to shape a plan and agenda to tackle the planetary crisis.

The Uttarakhand government on Monday (October 13, 2025) approved a crucial amendment in the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) bringing relief to citizens of Nepali and Bhutanese origin who are living in the State and do not have an Aadhaar card as identity proof to register their marriage.

Sources in the State government, who were part of the Cabinet meeting, stated that the government has permitted people from Nepal, Bhutan and even Tibet to register their marriage using a certificate from the Foreign Registration Officer.

“Under the new amendment in the UCC, foreign citizens will now be able register their marriages by uploading their citizenship certificate, residence certificate, passport, or valid identity card, whichever is more acceptable. In such a situation, citizens of these countries living in Uttarakhand who are already married or about to get married can register their marriage by uploading their documents,” the official said.

India has been elected to the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) for the 2026-28 term, marking the country's seventh stint on the Geneva-based rights body.

Announcing the results of the election held on Tuesday, the UNHRC in a social media post said India's three-year term will begin on January 1, 2026.

India's Permanent Representative to the UN, Parvathaneni Harish, in a social media post, thanked all delegations for their overwhelming support.

"India was elected to the Human Rights Council for the term 2026-28 for the seventh time today," he said.

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitaraman to inaugurate dhaRti BioNest Incubation Centre at IIT Dharwad this evening. The incubation centre will support start-ups and other entrepreneurs in the areas of biotechnology, deep tech and healthcare. The Incubation Centre has supported 15 start-ups as of now that have received the benefit of the Elevate Karnataka scheme with a seed money of 50 lakh rupees.

National School of Drama (NSD) and Bharat Bhawan in Bhopal have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to support the revival of Rangmandal Repertory, which had remained inactive for over two decades.

Addressing a press conference in New Delhi today, the director of NSD and renowned Actor Chittaranjan Tripathy today informed about this decision, saying this Joint NSD-Bharat Bhawan Rang Mandal is a significant step towards presenting quality theatre to the people of Madhya Pradesh and India as a whole. He further added that the Bharat Bhawan is a cultural epicentre not only for Madhya Pradesh but for the entire nation.

The MoU was signed on 11 of this month in the presence of Union Culture Minister, Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, and Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav.

The Uttar Pradesh government will establish Divyang Rehabilitation Centres at every divisional headquarters to ensure that no person with a disability is left outside the mainstream of society. The Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said these state-of-the-art centres will provide integrated rehabilitation services-including medical, educational, psychological, and vocational support, under one roof. CM Yogi also instructed that existing Divyang Rehabilitation Centres be upgraded and developed as model facilities, while new centres be set up in districts where none exist. Divyang Rehabilitation Centres are currently operational in 37 districts, including 11 at divisional headquarters.

The Dattopant Thengadi National Board for Workers Education & Development (DTNBWED), Ministry of Labour & Employment, Government of India, has entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Uttar Pradesh Building and Other Construction Workers Welfare Board (UPBOCWWB) to boost workforce capacity building under the Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) programme for construction workers.

In a formal ceremony, the Memorandum of Understanding was signed by Colonel Neeraj Sharma, Director General, DTNBWED, and Ms. Pooja Yadav, IAS, Secretary, UPBOCWWB. The event was graced by Ms. Vandana Gurnani, Secretary, Ministry of Labour & Employment; Dr. Shanmuga Sundaram M.K., IAS, Secretary, Labour & Employment Department, Government of Uttar Pradesh; Shri Virjesh Upadhyay, Chairperson of the Governing Body, DTNBWED; Shri Alok Mishra, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Labour & Employment; as well as senior officials from the Ministry of Labour & Employment, DTNBWED, and UPBOCWWB.

Through this Government-to-Government partnership, DTNBWED will act as the Project Implementation Agency for Phase 1 RPL training, covering 1,00,000 registered workers across 7 districts of Uttar Pradesh and expanding to cover 2,00,000 workers in subsequent phases across the entire state. The structured 120-hour programme is designed to align workers’ skills with National Council for Vocational Education and Training (NCVET) standards, followed by assessment and certification. Wage loss compensation for participating workers will be credited directly to their bank accounts upon successful completion and assessment, ensuring both support and incentive for upskilling.