UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — Exposition of Holy Devnimori Relics of Lord Buddha in Sri Lanka

Question 1

The excavation of the Devnimori Mahastupa that yielded the Buddha relic casket was carried out by which one of the following institutions?

Accepted Answer

Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda

Answer

Archaeological Survey of India

Answer

Deccan College Post-Graduate and Research Institute, Pune

Answer

Banaras Hindu University

Question 2

The principal relic casket recovered from the Devnimori stupa was fashioned primarily out of which material?

Accepted Answer

Green schist

Answer

Rock crystal

Answer

Steatite (soapstone)

Answer

Sandstone

Question 3

Approximately how many devotees are reported to have venerated the Devnimori relics during the seven-day exposition in Colombo in February 2026?

Accepted Answer

Over one million

Answer

Over one lakh

Answer

Around five lakh

Answer

Over ten million

Question 4

In the context of India's cultural outreach, the term 'relic diplomacy' is best described as which one of the following?

Accepted Answer

Temporarily sending sacred relics abroad for public veneration to strengthen cultural and diplomatic ties

Answer

Permanently transferring ownership of sacred relics to a partner country as a goodwill gesture

Answer

Recovering illegally exported antiquities from foreign museums through diplomatic channels

Answer

Exchanging archaeologists and conservation experts between countries under bilateral agreements

Question 5

India's overseas Buddha relic expositions in Thailand, Mongolia and Bhutan have been organised by the Ministry of Culture in partnership with which one of the following bodies?

Accepted Answer

International Buddhist Confederation

Answer

Mahabodhi Society of India

Answer

Archaeological Survey of India

Answer

Indian Council for Cultural Relations

Question 6

The 2026 Devnimori relic exposition operationalised a vision first articulated during which one of the following events?

Accepted Answer

PM Modi's April 2025 State Visit to Sri Lanka

Answer

PM Modi's 2015 visit to Sri Lanka

Answer

PM Modi's 2019 visit to Sri Lanka

Answer

The 2020 India–Sri Lanka virtual bilateral summit

Question 7

The 2026 exposition of the Devnimori relics abroad was conducted under the nodal authority of which one of the following Union Ministries?

Accepted Answer

Ministry of Culture

Answer

Ministry of External Affairs

Answer

Ministry of Tourism

Answer

Ministry of Minority Affairs

UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — Exposition of Holy Devnimori Relics of Lord Buddha in Sri Lanka

Q1. The excavation of the Devnimori Mahastupa that yielded the Buddha relic casket was carried out by which one of the following institutions?

Q2. The principal relic casket recovered from the Devnimori stupa was fashioned primarily out of which material?

Q3. Approximately how many devotees are reported to have venerated the Devnimori relics during the seven-day exposition in Colombo in February 2026?

Q4. In the context of India's cultural outreach, the term 'relic diplomacy' is best described as which one of the following?

Q5. India's overseas Buddha relic expositions in Thailand, Mongolia and Bhutan have been organised by the Ministry of Culture in partnership with which one of the following bodies?

Q6. The 2026 Devnimori relic exposition operationalised a vision first articulated during which one of the following events?

Q7. The 2026 exposition of the Devnimori relics abroad was conducted under the nodal authority of which one of the following Union Ministries?