Current Affairs 16 October 2025

India Elected Unopposed to UN Human Rights Council for Seventh Term.

• India has been elected unopposed to the United Nations Human Rights Council for its seventh term (2026-28).
• The Human Rights Council is an intergovernmental body of 47 members formed in 2006, replacing the former United Nations Commission on Human Rights.
• The Council promotes and protects human rights globally.

UNESCO Launches Virtual Museum of Stolen Cultural Objects.

• UNESCO officially launched the Virtual Museum of Stolen Cultural Objects at MONDIACULT 2025, marking a first-of-its-kind global initiative.
• Developed in response to Member States' calls for coordinated action against illicit trafficking.
• Financial support for the museum comes from Saudi Arabia, and it is implemented in collaboration with INTERPOL.

India’s Female Workforce Participation Rises to 42% in 2023–24.

• Female Labour Force Participation Rate (FLFPR) in India has increased from 23% in 2017–18 to around 42% in 2023–24, marking a significant transformation in gender inclusion and economic progress.
• India recorded the sharpest rise in women's labour force participation among BRICS nations (Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa) over the past decade.

Number of births declines; deaths rise slightly: report.

• Registrar General of India (RGI) released the 2023 CRS report, revealing key demographic trends, including a decline in births and a marginal rise in deaths.
• Births Registered: 2.52 crore births were registered in 2023, about 2.32 lakh fewer than in 2022. The overall birth registration rate stood at 98.4%, indicating near-complete coverage.
• Sikkim's data was not included in the report.

Pakistan Offers US Access to Port Pasni to Boost Trade.

• Pakistan has offered the United States the opportunity to develop and operate Port Pasni as a commercial terminal, providing the US access to critical minerals.
• Location: Pasni Port is located in the Gwadar district of Balochistan, alongside the Arabian Sea, about 113 km east of China-operated Gwadar Port and 286 km from Iran’s Chabahar Port.