• Piprahwa is a highly significant Buddhist archaeological site located in the Siddharthnagar district of Uttar Pradesh.
• It is identified as the ancient Kapilavastu, the ancestral home of Lord Buddha.
• Discovery: The site was first excavated in 1898 by a British engineer, William Claxton Peppé.
• During excavations by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) in the 1970s, more than 40 terracotta sealings were found, bearing the inscription 'Kapilavastu'. This proved that this was the place where Siddhartha Gautama spent the first 29 years of his life.

What was found in the relics?:

• Bone Reliquaries: Stone (soapstone) reliquaries were found containing the sacred bones and ashes of Lord Buddha.
• Inscriptions: An inscription in Brahmi script on one of the reliquaries states that these relics were enshrined by the people of the Shakya clan in honor of their brother Buddha.
• Precious Gems: Along with the reliquaries, gold ornaments, precious stones (such as rubies, sapphires), pearls, and silver flowers were also found.

Recent Discussion: 'Homecoming' after 127 years:

• Some of the relics, which were in the possession of the Peppé family, were put up for auction in Hong Kong in 2025. The Government of India, through diplomatic efforts, stopped the auction, and on July 30, 2025, these relics were brought back to India after 127 years.
• Conservation: These relics are considered 'AA' category (highest security) ancient heritage in India.

• The Ministry stated that the platform is not complying with the regulatory provisions under the Information Technology Act, 2000 and the IT Rules, 2021.
• The Ministry emphasized that compliance with the IT Act and the IT Rules, 2021 is mandatory.

• These proposals include the manufacturing of products across 11 sectors, including mobile manufacturing, telecommunications, consumer electronics, strategic electronics, automotive, and information technology hardware.
• These projects are expected to generate production worth Rs. 2.58 lakh crore and create approximately 34,000 direct jobs.

• This 'run-of-the-river' project is an extension of the existing 390 MW Dulhasti Phase-I (operational since 2007).
• The estimated cost is over Rs. 3,200 crore and it will be developed by NHPC on a BOOT (Build-Own-Operate-Transfer) model.
• No large reservoir will be created; instead, it will utilize the water discharged from Phase-I.

• Main Objective: To provide financial security to the monks residing in the Satras (Vaishnava monasteries) who have dedicated their entire lives to spiritual practice and the preservation of Satra culture.
• Ascetic Devotees: These are Vaishnava monks who remain unmarried (celibate) and reside within the Satras.
• Financial Assistance: Each eligible devotee will be provided with a pension-like assistance of Rs. 1,500 per month directly into their bank account (DBT).
• What are Satras? These are centers of Neo-Vaishnavism established by the 15th-16th-century social reformer and saint Mahapurusha Srimanta Sankardeva.
• Majuli island in Assam is considered the largest center of Satra culture in the world.
• Sattriya dance, a classical dance of Assam, was developed in the 'Satras' (monasteries) by the Vaishnava saint Srimanta Sankardeva in the 15th century and was included among the 8 classical dances of India in 2000. It is based on Vaishnavism and the Leelas (divine plays) of Krishna and originated as an auxiliary dance for Ankia Naat.

• Capital: Ashgabat
• Continent: Asia (Central Asia)

• Bordering countries: Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Afghanistan, Iran
• Caspian Sea: Located to the west

• First Prize in the ‘Changing India, My Experience – Instagram Reels Contest’ category: Indrajeet Subodh Mashankar
• First Prize in the ‘Changing India, My Experience – YouTube Shorts Challenge’ category: Manthan Rohit
• First Prize in the ‘Story of New India in Short Audio-Visual Challenge’ category: Sushovan Manna
• First Prize in the ‘Changing India, My Experience – Blog Writing Competition’ category: Krishna Gupta

• The Union Ministry of Law and Justice issued the notification after receiving approval from President Droupadi Murmu.
• He will assume office after the retirement of the current Chief Justice, Justice Tarlochan Singh Chauhan, on January 8, 2026.
• Justice Sonak is currently a judge of the Bombay High Court.
• The Central Government has also approved the appointment of two judges to the Punjab and Haryana High Court following the recommendations of the Supreme Court Collegium.
• According to the notification, Justices Rameshchander Dimri and Neerja Kulwant Kalson will be appointed as Additional Judges of the Punjab and Haryana High Court for a period of two years.
• The appointment of a High Court Chief Justice is made under Article 217 of the Constitution of India. This involves the President making the appointment after consultation with the Chief Justice of India (CJI) and the Governor of the concerned state.

• Born: January 3, 1760
• His 266th birth anniversary was celebrated on January 3, 2026.
• Father's name: Jagaveera Pandiya Kattabommu and Mother's name: Arumugathammal
• Title: He was often known as 'Karuthaiyah' (the Black Prince)
• Coronation: At the age of 30, he became the 47th Palayakkarar of Panchalankurichi
• He waged war against the British, which is known as the 'First Polygar War' (1799)
• On October 16, 1799, at the young age of 39, he was publicly hanged from a tamarind tree in Kayathar.
• The Government of India issued a postage stamp in his memory in 1999.

• Born: January 3, 1730
• Her 296th birth anniversary was celebrated on January 3, 2026
• Birthplace: Ramanathapuram (present-day Tamil Nadu)
• Died: December 25, 1796
• Title: Veeramangai (Brave Woman)
• Known for: India's first female freedom fighter
• Rani Velu Nachiyar was the first woman in South India to wage an armed struggle against the British East India Company.
• She was the wife of King Muthuvaduganatha Thevar of the Ramanathapuram state.
• In 1772, the British killed the king, after which Rani Velu Nachiyar chose the path of resistance.
• She received military assistance from Hyder Ali and waged an organized war against the British.
• Rani Velu Nachiyar's army included a special women's contingent, led by a brave woman named Kuyili.
• Kuyili is considered the first female suicide warrior in India, who destroyed the British ammunition depot.
• In 1780, Rani Velu Nachiyar defeated the British and recaptured Ramanathapuram.
• The Government of India issued a commemorative postage stamp in her honor on December 31, 2008.

• Full Name: Savitribai Phule
• Born: January 3, 1831
• Birthplace: Naigaon, Satara district (Maharashtra)
• Died: March 10, 1897
• Husband: Mahatma Jyotirao Phule
• Known for: India's first female teacher, social reformer, and poet
• Savitribai Phule laid the foundation of women's education in India.

• She started India's first girls' school in Bhide Wada, Pune in 1848.
• Despite social opposition and atrocities, she continuously worked for the education of girls and Dalits.
• She died in 1897 while serving patients during the plague epidemic in Pune.
• Major Works: Kavya Phule, Bavan Kashi Subodh Ratnakar