Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi to Inaugurate Exposition of Sacred Piprahwa Relics on 3rd January 2026

• Piprahwa Relics = sacred Buddhist reliquary assemblage (bone fragments, gem relics, gold ornaments, soapstone/crystal caskets) attributed to Lord Buddha, excavated from Piprahwa, Uttar Pradesh — identified with ancient Kapilavastu, Buddha's natal kingdom.
• A portion repatriated from a UK private collection after 127 years (July 2025); the Ministry of Culture is reuniting these with 1898 and 1971–77 excavated finds at a Grand International Exposition inaugurated by PM Modi on 3 January 2026.
• High-yield for UPSC: intersects Ancient History (Buddhism), Art & Culture (Mauryan/Sunga reliquary art, Brahmi), Cultural Diplomacy, and Antiquities repatriation law.