CSIR–National Institute of Science Communication and Policy Research (CSIR–NIScPR) celebrated 10th Ayurveda Day on 17th October 2025. The occasion marked a significant milestone in promoting Ayurveda, as a holistic approach to health and well-being rooted in sustainability and natural living.
The celebration was commemorated by conducting a NIScPR SVASTIK lecture under the umbrella of the national initiative #SVASTIK (Scientifically Validated Societal Traditional Knowledge) to communicate scientifically validated traditional knowledge to society, and a free health check-up camp for CSIR-NIScPR staff.
A free health assessment camp was also organised under which NIScPR staff & students availed the OPD consultations. Such initiatives aim to enhance accessibility to traditional healthcare knowledge, improve community health awareness, and foster scientific innovation in the Ayurvedic sector.
Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Skill Development & Entrepreneurship and Minister of State for Education, Shri Jayant Chaudhary, is leading a high-level Knowledge Exchange Mission to the Philippines from October 20–22, 2025, facilitated by the World Bank.
The Indian delegation includes senior officers from the Ministry of Skill Development & Entrepreneurship and representatives from the states of Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Telangana.
The visit is aimed at fostering knowledge exchange and sharing best practices in areas related to skills development, labour mobility, and data-driven policy frameworks.
The mission features strategic engagements with key Philippine institutions such as the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW), Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), and the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA).
This mission reflects the shared commitment of the Global South to collaborate on human capital development, promote mutual learning, and create pathways for equitable and sustainable growth through skills and entrepreneurship.
The Department of Legal Affairs, Ministry of Law and Justice, has increased the maximum limit for the number of Notaries appointed by the State Governments of Gujarat, Tamil Nadu, Rajasthan and Nagaland, the ministry said in a release.
According to the release, the Department of Legal Affairs, Ministry of Law and Justice, has notified the Notaries (Amendment) Rules, 2025 by way of G.S.R. 763(E) dated October 17, 2025, further amending the Notaries Rules, 1956 under the powers conferred by section 15 of the Notaries Act, 1952 (53 of 1952).
Bathou religion of Bodo community in Assam gets a separate code in the upcoming census.
The Bodo community's ancient Bathou religion will receive a separate code in the upcoming census, a decision hailed as historic national recognition. Union Home Minister Amit Shah confirmed this, emphasizing the religion's significance and its connection to the five elements.
his move grants long-awaited acknowledgment to the sacred Bathou faith.
He explained that Bathou is made up of two elements, and its meaning is "the deep mystery of the creator of the five elements." The five elements, or panchatatva, include fire, air, earth, sky, and water, which form the foundation of your great religion.
Uruguay’s senate passed a law decriminalizing euthanasia, putting the South American nation among a handful of other countries where seriously ill patients can legally obtain help to end their lives. It makes Uruguay the first country in predominantly Catholic Latin America to allow euthanasia via legislation.
Colombia and Ecuador have decriminalized the practice through Supreme Court decisions.
In Chile, left-wing President Gabriel Boric recently revived a push for the approval of an euthanasia bill long stalled in the Senate. Fierce debates and spirited activism around the practice has gripped the region in recent years.
The law, which moved forward in fits and starts over the last five years, cleared its final hurdle as 20 out of 31 senators voted in favor.
The lower house approved the bill in August with a large majority.
The law's passage cements Uruguay's reputation as among the most socially liberal in the region.
The country was first in the world to legalize marijuana for recreational use and passed pioneering legislation allowing same-sex marriage and abortion over a decade ago.
The legislation permits euthanasia, performed by a healthcare professional, but not assisted suicide, which involves a patient self-administering a lethal dose of prescribed medication.
Unlike laws in U.S. states, Australia and New Zealand restricting euthanasia to those with a life expectancy of no more than six months or a year, Uruguay sets no time limits. It also allows anyone suffering from an incurable illness that causes “unbearable suffering” to seek assisted death, even if their diagnosis is not terminal.
Trans rights activist Akkai Padmashali has been named as a member of a Supreme Court-appointed committee that was formed to formulate an equal opportunity policy for the protection of the rights of transgender persons.
With this, Ms. Padmashali becomes the first transgender person from Karnataka to be part of a panel appointed by the apex court.
It is also the first Supreme Court-appointed committee to have representation from the transgender community.
According to Ms. Padmashali, while there have been multiple court rulings, including the 2014 NALSA v.
Union of India judgment that legally recognised transgender people as a “third gender” and upheld their right to self-identify their gender, and the 2018 ruling that decriminalised homosexuality, favouring the gender and sexual minorities, the implementation of the same on the ground has not been effective.
Headed by Justice Asha Menon, retired judge of the Delhi High Court, the other members of the committee are Grace Banu, Dalit rights and trans rights activist; Vyjayanthi Vasanta Mogli, Telangana-based trans rights activist; Sourav Mandal, associate professor at Jindal Global University; Nithya Rajshekhar, senior associate at Centre for Law & Policy, Bengaluru; and
Sanjay Sharma, retired chief executive officer of Association for Transgender Health in India.
Labour markets lost momentum in September as the unemployment rate rose marginally to 5.2 per cent from 5.1 per cent in August as the rural areas show a sharper rise in joblessness on account of the sowing season getting over.
The headline unemployment rate for people of age 15 years and above in the current weekly status (CWS) terms for rural areas rose to 4.6 per cent in September from 4.3 per cent in August — the highest since June.
Getepay, one of India's fastest-growing payment aggregators, has announced a strategic partnership with ESAF Small Finance Bank (ESAF Bank) for the deployment of Vega, its next-generation payment switch. This partnership marks a significant step forward in strengthening India's digital payments infrastructure.
More than a technology implementation, it represents a shared commitment between ESAF and Getepay to enable seamless, secure, and inclusive digital banking experiences for customers and businesses alike.
Developed by Getepay, Vega is a future-ready payment switch designed to empower banks and financial institutions with scalable, high-performance infrastructure for real-time transaction processing and automated reconciliation.
Partnering with ESAF Small Finance Bank is a defining moment in Getepay's journey; a collaboration that reflects mutual trust, shared values, and a collective vision to build secure and inclusive digital ecosystems across India.
This partnership exemplifies how responsible banking and fintech innovation can come together to build resilient, future-ready digital ecosystems.
Two reports published today by the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) find that the tropical forests most at risk from loss are also the most vital to people. Annual investment in forests will need to triple by 2030, grow sixfold by 2050, and shift towards protecting high-risk forests.
In 2015, with resolution 69/282, the General Assembly decided to designate 20 October 2015 as the second World Statistics Day under the general theme “Better data, better lives,” as well as to celebrate World Statistics Day every five years on 20 October.
Theme 2025: Driving change with quality statistics and data for everyone.
This year’s commemoration of World Statistics Day alongside the United Nations' 80th anniversary highlights the crucial role that reliable data plays in global progress. Statistics have been foundational not only to the UN’s operations but also to addressing worldwide challenges such as peacekeeping, sustainable development, climate change, and public health.
Lionel Messi has won the 2025 MLS Golden Boot, scoring 29 goals and adding 19 assists in his second full season with Inter Miami CF. He outperformed Denis Bouanga and Sam Surridge, becoming Miami’s first Golden Boot winner and the first Argentine to claim the award since Taty Castellanos in 2021.
Messi’s 48 goal contributions are just one shy of Carlos Vela’s 2019 record. He is also on track to become MLS’s first back-to-back MVP winner, following Miami’s historic 2024 Supporters’ Shield run.
Earlier, Messi became the all-time assist leader in men’s international football with 60 assists after helping Argentina beat Puerto Rico 6-0.
Veteran actor Govardhan Asrani passed away in Mumbai at the age of 84. Best known for his role as the jailer in Sholay, he also starred in hits like Chupke Chupke, Bhool Bhulaiyaa, Dhamaal and Bunty Aur Babli 2.
He also acted in many of Gulzar’s films like “Mere Apne”, “Koshish” and “Parichay”. Asrani’s other popular roles were in movie such as “Bawarchi”, “Abhimaan”,
“Do Ladke Dono Kadke” and “Bandish”.
There were a few movies where he went against his popular image and starred in negative roles such as “Chaitali” and “Koshish”. He also directed the movie “Chala Murari Hero Banne”.
Indian shooter Zoravar Singh Sandhu made history by winning bronze in men’s trap at the ISSF World Championship Shotgun 2025 in Athens, Greece. Competing in tough weather and light conditions, Zoravar hit 31 of 50 targets in the final match, finishing behind Croatia’s Josip Glasnovic and Spain’s Andres Garcia.
National Rifle Association of India President Kalikesh Singh Deo hailed the win as a historic moment, crediting Zoravar’s dedication and the efforts of coach Peter Wilson’s team. This is country’s third medal in the men’s trap shooting events at the Shotgun World Championships.
Manavjeet Singh Sandhu won the gold medal in the men’s trap at Zagreb 2006 while Karni Singh won a silver in the 1962 championships held in Cairo.
Star Indian archer Jyothi Surekha Vennam scripted history by becoming the first Indian woman compound archer to win a medal at the Archery World Cup Final, clinching a bronze medal in Nanjing, China. Jyothi defeated second seed Ella Gibson of Great Britain 150-145 in the match, shooting a perfect 15 tens across five ends.
The Asian Games champion began her campaign with a solid 143-140 quarterfinal win over Alexis Ruiz of USA before narrowly falling 143-145 to world number one Andrea Becerra of Mexico in a tightly contested semifinal.
However, she bounced back with clinical precision to secure country’s first-ever women’s compound medal at the season-ending final.
Another Indian archer Madhura Dhamangaonkar made an early exit, losing 142-145 to Mexico’s Mariana Bernal in the first round of the women’s compound event.
