The Wildlife Institute of India, under the aegis of Project Elephant, Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, has conducted the country's first DNA-based population estimation of Asian elephants as part of the All India Synchronized Elephant Estimation–2023. Using non-invasive genetic sampling and spatial capture–recapture (SECR) modelling, the study provides a scientifically robust estimate of elephant numbers across India's major elephant landscapes. This marks a significant step towards standardizing national population assessments and strengthening science-based management and conservation of Asian elephants in India.