Daily Current Affairs

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.

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.

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

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.

G7 Evolution:

• 1976 – G7 formed with 7 countries
• 1998-2014 – Russia joined, making it G8
• 2014 – Russia removed after Crimea annexation, restoring G7

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%.

State-wise Deaths (2025):

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.