🇮🇳 National News
Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the Grand International Exposition of Sacred Piprahwa Relics titled “The Light & the Lotus: Relics of the Awakened One” on January 3, 2026, at the Rai Pithora Cultural Complex in New Delhi. This historic event marks a momentous occasion in India’s cultural and spiritual heritage.
The Piprahwa relics were discovered in 1898 by British colonial officer William Claxton Peppé during excavations at the ancient stupa site in what is now Siddharth Nagar district, Uttar Pradesh. The site is widely identified as ancient Kapilavastu, the place where Bhagwan Buddha spent his early life before renunciation.
Discovery Details: The archaeological find included bone fragments, crystal reliquaries, gold ornaments, and ritual offerings. A Brahmi inscription on one of the caskets directly linked the remains to Lord Buddha, attributing the deposit to the Sakya clan—Buddha’s own kinsmen.
Repatriation Journey: After the 1898 discovery, the relics were divided into three portions:
- First portion – Gifted to the King of Siam (Thailand)
- Second portion – Taken to England (retained by the Peppé family)
- Third portion – Preserved at the Indian Museum, Kolkata
The Peppé family portion remained abroad for over 127 years and was repatriated in 2025 through decisive intervention by the Ministry of Culture, supported by Buddhist communities worldwide and innovative public-private partnership involving the Godrej Group.
The exposition brings together, for the first time:
- The repatriated Piprahwa relics after more than a century
- Authentic relics and archaeological materials from the 1898 excavation
- Materials from subsequent 1971-1975 excavations at Piprahwa
- Artifacts preserved in the National Museum, New Delhi and Indian Museum, Kolkata
Buddhist Sects: The three major Buddhist traditions are:
- Hinayana – Early teachings of Buddha, emphasizing individual enlightenment
- Mahayana – Concept of salvation and the Bodhisattva ideal
- Vajrayana – Focus on meditation, rituals, and tantric practices
Location Context:
- Location – Siddharth Nagar, Uttar Pradesh
- Ancient name – Kapilavastu
- Discovery year – 1898
- Discoverer – William Claxton Peppé
🌐 International News
The 52nd G7 Summit is scheduled to be held from June 14-16, 2026, in Évian-les-Bains, a picturesque alpine resort town in the Haute-Savoie department of southeastern France.
- Venue – Évian-les-Bains, France (on shores of Lake Geneva)
- Dates – June 14-16, 2026
- Member countries – 7 (UK, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, USA)
- France hosting – Second time (first was in 2003 as G8)
- France last hosted G7 – 2019 in Biarritz
G7 Evolution:
- 1976 – G7 formed with 7 countries
- 1998-2014 – Russia joined, making it G8
- 2014 – Russia removed after Crimea annexation, restoring G7
| Summit | Year | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 51st G7 Summit | 2025 | Kananaskis, Canada |
| 52nd G7 Summit | 2026 | Évian-les-Bains, France |
| 53rd G7 Summit | 2027 | USA (scheduled) |
- G7 has no permanent headquarters
- Paris hosts headquarters of UNESCO and OECD
🌿 Environment & Wildlife
India witnessed a significant increase in tiger mortality during 2025, with 166 tiger deaths recorded compared to 126 deaths in 2024, marking a rise of approximately 32%.
- IUCN Status – Endangered
- Country with maximum tiger population – India
- Total tigers in India – 3,682 (2018-2022 census)
- Global share – Around 75% of world’s tiger population
- 2024 tiger deaths – 126
- 2025 tiger deaths – 166
State-wise Deaths (2025):
| Rank | State | Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Madhya Pradesh | 55 |
| 2 | Maharashtra | Second highest |
| 3 | Karnataka | Third highest |
- Project Tiger – Launched in 1973
- NTCA Act – 2006 (under Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change)
- Tiger Reserves – 53 across 19 states
The increase in tiger mortality highlights the ongoing challenges in wildlife conservation despite India’s robust conservation framework. Factors contributing to tiger deaths include natural mortality, territorial conflicts, poaching, human-wildlife conflict, and habitat fragmentation.
India remains home to approximately 75% of the world’s tiger population, making tiger conservation critical not just for national biodiversity but also for global wildlife preservation efforts. The National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA), established under the Wildlife Protection Act 2006, continues to monitor and implement conservation strategies across the country’s 53 tiger reserves spanning 19 states.
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