The United States has returned over 1,000 ancient Indian artifacts to India, following a request from the Indian government. The artifacts, which include bronze idols, coins, and pottery, were smuggled out of India and sold to various collectors and museums in the US over several decades. The Indian embassy in Washington D.C. handed over the artifacts to a senior Indian official during a ceremony. The return of the artifacts is a significant step towards resolving the issue of cultural heritage repatriation between the two countries.