UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — PM to Inaugurate Grand International Exposition of Sacred Piprahwa Relics related to Bhagwan Buddha on 3rd January

Q1. Piprahwa, the site of the sacred Buddhist relics recently brought together for an international exposition in New Delhi, is located in which one of the following districts of Uttar Pradesh?

  • A. Siddharthnagar
  • B. Kushinagar
  • C. Maharajganj
  • D. Sant Kabir Nagar

Q2. With reference to the archaeological sites of Piprahwa and Lumbini, consider the following statements: 1. Piprahwa is widely identified with the ancient city of Kapilavastu, whereas Lumbini is identified as the birthplace of the Buddha. 2. Both Piprahwa and Lumbini lie within the present-day territory of Uttar Pradesh. 3. The Piprahwa stupa is situated in Siddharthnagar district, close to the Indo-Nepal border. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. Piprahwa is widely identified with the ancient city of Kapilavastu, whereas Lumbini is identified as the birthplace of the Buddha.
  2. Both Piprahwa and Lumbini lie within the present-day territory of Uttar Pradesh.
  3. The Piprahwa stupa is situated in Siddharthnagar district, close to the Indo-Nepal border.
  • A. 1 only
  • B. 1 and 3 only
  • C. 2 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3

Q3. The second phase of systematic excavations at the Piprahwa stupa during 1971-77, which yielded two additional steatite relic caskets containing twenty-two sacred bone relics, was carried out under which one of the following authorities?

  • A. The Archaeological Survey of India, led by K.M. Srivastava
  • B. The Indian Museum, Kolkata, led by Rakhaldas Banerji
  • C. Banaras Hindu University, led by A.K. Narain
  • D. Deccan College, Pune, led by H.D. Sankalia

Q4. Which institution holds custodianship of the principal share of the 1898 Piprahwa relics retained in India, classified as 'AA' antiquities under Indian law?

  • A. National Museum, New Delhi
  • B. Indian Museum, Kolkata
  • C. Archaeological Survey of India Site Museum, Sarnath
  • D. Patna Museum

Q5. The bone relics from the 1898 Piprahwa excavation that were gifted to King Rama V of Siam were subsequently re-distributed by him among how many foreign Buddhist countries?

  • A. Two
  • B. Three
  • C. Four
  • D. Five

Q6. With reference to the Brahmi inscription on the Piprahwa casket of 1898, the term 'Sakya' refers strictly to which one of the following?

  • A. A monastic lineage of bhikkhus founded by Ananda exclusively for ordained kinsmen of the Buddha
  • B. The kshatriya clan of Kapilavastu to which Gautama Buddha belonged by birth
  • C. A guild of relic-enshrining artisans patronised by Emperor Ashoka in the 3rd century BCE
  • D. A class of lay devotees mentioned only in the Mahayana Lalitavistara

Q7. Match List I (Event related to the 2025 repatriation of Piprahwa relics) with List II (Date) and select the correct answer using the code given below the Lists:

  • A. A-2, B-3, C-4, D-1
  • B. A-3, B-2, C-1, D-4
  • C. A-2, B-4, C-3, D-1
  • D. A-3, B-2, C-4, D-1

Q8. The July 2025 repatriation of the Piprahwa gem relics from a halted Sotheby's Hong Kong auction marked their return to India after how many years since their original 1898 dispersal from the Piprahwa stupa?

  • A. 100 years
  • B. 115 years
  • C. 127 years
  • D. 150 years

Q9. The May 2025 intervention that led to the postponement of the Sotheby's Hong Kong auction of the sacred Piprahwa Buddhist relics, including the issuance of the legal notice to Sotheby's and the Peppé family, was initiated by which one of the following Union Ministries?

  • A. Ministry of External Affairs
  • B. Ministry of Culture
  • C. Ministry of Tourism
  • D. Ministry of Home Affairs

Q10. Match List I (Event related to the Piprahwa relics) with List II (Year) and select the correct answer using the code given below the lists:

  • A. A-1, B-2, C-3, D-4
  • B. A-2, B-1, C-4, D-3
  • C. A-1, B-2, C-4, D-3
  • D. A-2, B-1, C-3, D-4

Q11. 'The Light and the Lotus: Relics of the Awakened One', the grand international exposition of sacred Piprahwa relics inaugurated in January 2026, was held at which one of the following venues?

  • A. National Museum, Janpath, New Delhi
  • B. Rai Pithora Cultural Complex, New Delhi
  • C. Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts, New Delhi
  • D. Indian Museum, Kolkata

Q12. Approximately how many exceptional objects — ranging from the 6th century BCE onward and including sculptures, manuscripts, thangkas, reliquaries and ritual objects — are showcased at 'The Light and the Lotus: Relics of the Awakened One' exposition inaugurated in New Delhi on 3 January 2026?

  • A. Over 40
  • B. Over 60
  • C. Over 80
  • D. Over 120

Q13. Under the Antiquities and Art Treasures Act, 1972, what is the maximum term of imprisonment prescribed for a person who exports or attempts to export an antiquity or art treasure in contravention of the Act?

  • A. One year
  • B. Two years
  • C. Three years
  • D. Seven years

Q14. Match List I with List II and select the correct answer using the code given below the lists:

  • A. A-2, B-1, C-3, D-4
  • B. A-1, B-2, C-3, D-4
  • C. A-2, B-3, C-1, D-4
  • D. A-3, B-1, C-2, D-4

Q15. With reference to India's legal framework on antiquities and the UNESCO 1970 Convention, consider the following statements: 1. The Antiquities and Art Treasures Act, 1972 primarily regulates export trade in movable antiquities, whereas the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act, 1958 provides for preservation of immovable monuments and sites of national importance. 2. The UNESCO Convention on the Means of Prohibiting and Preventing the Illicit Import, Export and Transfer of Ownership of Cultural Property was adopted before the Indian Antiquities and Art Treasures Act was enacted. 3. India is not a State Party to the UNESCO 1970 Convention and is therefore unable to invoke it for repatriation claims.

  1. The Antiquities and Art Treasures Act, 1972 primarily regulates export trade in movable antiquities, whereas the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act, 1958 provides for preservation of immovable monuments and sites of national importance.
  2. The UNESCO Convention on the Means of Prohibiting and Preventing the Illicit Import, Export and Transfer of Ownership of Cultural Property was adopted before the Indian Antiquities and Art Treasures Act was enacted.
  3. India is not a State Party to the UNESCO 1970 Convention and is therefore unable to invoke it for repatriation claims.
  • A. 1 only
  • B. 1 and 2 only
  • C. 2 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3

Q16. With reference to the Ashtamahasthanas (eight great places) associated with the life of Gautama Buddha, which of the following pairs is/are correctly matched?

  1. Sravasti — Jetavana Monastery donated to the Buddha by Anathapindika
  2. Sankasya — Descent of the Buddha from Tavatimsa heaven
  3. Rajgir — Delivery of the first sermon (Dhammachakkappavattana)
  4. Vaishali — Mahaparinirvana of the Buddha
  • A. 1 and 2 only
  • B. 2 and 4 only
  • C. 1, 2 and 4
  • D. 3 only

Q17. In the context of Buddhist heritage in India, the term 'Ashtamahasthanas' refers to which one of the following?

  • A. Eight great places associated with the principal events in the life of Gautama Buddha
  • B. Eight stupas erected by Emperor Ashoka over the corporeal relics of the Buddha
  • C. Eight ancient monastic universities (mahaviharas) patronised by the Pala dynasty
  • D. Eight philosophical schools of early Buddhism that emerged after the Second Council

Q18. The 'Buddhist Circuit', which seeks integrated development of sites such as Bodh Gaya, Sarnath, Kushinagar, Sravasti, Sankisa and Kapilavastu, is operationalised under the Swadesh Darshan Scheme of which one of the following Union Ministries?

  • A. Ministry of Culture
  • B. Ministry of Tourism
  • C. Ministry of External Affairs
  • D. Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs

Q19. With reference to Gautama Buddha and the Sakya clan, which of the following statements is/are NOT correct?

  1. Suddhodana, the father of Gautama Buddha, was a chief of the Sakya clan whose capital was Kapilavastu.
  2. The Buddha left his palace at the age of 29 — an event referred to in tradition as Mahabhinishkramana.
  3. Lumbini, the birthplace of the Buddha, is located in present-day Bihar in India.
  4. The Piprahwa stupa, identified with ancient Kapilavastu, lies in present-day Madhya Pradesh.
  • A. 1 and 2 only
  • B. 3 and 4 only
  • C. 2 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 3 and 4 only

Q20. Match List I with List II and select the correct answer using the code given below the lists:

  • A. A-4, B-3, C-2, D-1
  • B. A-3, B-4, C-1, D-2
  • C. A-4, B-3, C-1, D-2
  • D. A-3, B-4, C-2, D-1

Q21. With reference to the Sakya clan of ancient India, which of the following statements is/are correct?

  1. The Sakyas were organised as a gana-sangha (oligarchic republic) with capital at Kapilavastu.
  2. Gautama Buddha belonged to the Sakya clan.
  3. The Sakyas of Kapilavastu received a share of the Buddha's bodily relics after his Mahaparinirvana.
  4. Ancient Kapilavastu, identified with the Piprahwa site, is located in present-day Bihar.
  • A. 1, 2 and 3 only
  • B. 2 and 3 only
  • C. 1, 2, 3 and 4
  • D. 1 and 4 only