UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi inaugurates Grand International Exposition of Sacred Piprahwa Relics related to Bhagwan Buddha in New Delhi

Q1. After the 1898 excavation, the Piprahwa finds were eventually scattered and are described as having been dispersed into how many principal portions?

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

Q2. The Piprahwa stupa is identified with 'Kapilavastu', which in the life of the Buddha refers to which one of the following?

  • A. The grove where the Buddha attained enlightenment
  • B. The capital of the Sakya realm where Gautama spent his early life
  • C. The deer park where the Buddha delivered his first sermon
  • D. The town where the Buddha attained mahaparinirvana

Q3. When the Piprahwa gem relics were repatriated to India in 2025, official accounts described them as returning after an absence of how many years?

  • A. 120 years
  • B. 125 years
  • C. 127 years
  • D. 130 years

Q4. The 2025 repatriation of the Piprahwa gem relics from the Peppé family was achieved through a public-private partnership between the Government of India and which entity?

  • A. Tata Trusts
  • B. Reliance Foundation
  • C. Godrej Industries Group
  • D. Infosys Foundation

Q5. The Grand International Exposition of Sacred Piprahwa Relics inaugurated in January 2026 was hosted by which Union Ministry?

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

Q6. In which year was the bulk of the Piprahwa relics transferred to the Indian Museum, Kolkata, following the 1898 excavation?

  • A. 1898
  • B. 1899
  • C. 1901
  • D. 1905

Q7. Following the 1898 excavation, which institution received the largest (bulk) share of the Piprahwa relics and reliquaries?

  • A. The British Museum, London
  • B. The Indian Museum, Kolkata
  • C. The National Museum, New Delhi
  • D. The Sarnath Archaeological Museum

Q8. Pali was accorded the status of a Classical Language of India by the Union Cabinet in which year?

  • A. 2004
  • B. 2014
  • C. 2020
  • D. 2024

Q9. Which one of the following was the first language to be declared a Classical Language of India?

  • A. Sanskrit
  • B. Tamil
  • C. Telugu
  • D. Kannada

Q10. The second set of Piprahwa relic caskets, recovered during the 1971-1975 excavations at the site (as distinct from the 1898 find), was unearthed by which agency?

  • A. William Claxton Peppé
  • B. The Archaeological Survey of India
  • C. Sotheby's, Hong Kong
  • D. The Indian Museum, Kolkata

Q11. In the context of India's antiquities framework used to challenge the Sotheby's auction, classifying an object as a non-exportable protected antiquity primarily means that:

  • A. it may be exported by any private owner after paying an export duty
  • B. its sale to foreign buyers and removal out of India are prohibited by law
  • C. it can be auctioned abroad provided repatriation funds are later raised
  • D. its ownership automatically vests in UNESCO