Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL), the Maharatna CPSE and one of the leading steel producers in the Country, has added another feather in its cap by clocking a sales volume of 2.1 Million Tonne (MT) (provisional) during December 2025, thereby achieving a colossal growth of about 37% over the sales volume of 1.5 MT achieved in December 2024.

This is the best ever showing for the month of December and saw the Company scale new peaks across product categories and different sales channels with significant inventory reduction. The performance was buoyed by maintaining strong focus on customer deliveries. SAIL has also been undertaking branding initiatives with a renewed vigour recently.

The performance during the month helped SAIL sustain its growth momentum during FY’26 with sales volume reaching 14.7 MT (provisional) through April-December’25 which is a growth of about 17% as compared to 12.6 MT during CPLY. Apart from the records set in the domestic market, export volumes have also surged significantly, underscoring SAIL’s growing global footprint.

The consistent improvement highlights SAIL’s strengthened market presence, customer-centric initiatives and operational excellence. The record breaking achievements by SAIL across both domestic and international markets not only reinforce it amongst leaders in India but also expected to catapult its position to a higher pedestal amongst top steel companies globally.

The Hyderabad Police have taken up a special surveillance as a deterrent on the sale of banned Chinese manja for kite flying during Sankranti, as it endangers both birds and people riding two-wheelers.

Hyderabad Police Commissioner VC Sajjanar said that clear instructions have been given to field officers to curb the use of Chinese manja during Sankranti festivities. Both task force personnel and the local police force would conduct raids at kite-selling centres, small grocery shops, and warehouses across the city.

Strict action is being taken against the sale and storage of the banned Chinese manja. He emphasised that no leniency will be shown if anyone is found illegally selling or storing this manja, which is dangerous for both birds and bikers.

The top cop warned that criminal cases would be immediately registered against violators along with stringent legal action. The police have increased surveillance not only on sellers but also on transport services and courier companies to stop the illegal transportation of the banned manja from other states to Telangana.

The commissioner noted that kite flying was an important tradition during the Sankranti festival but it should not endanger the lives of others. Urging parents to guide their wards on the use of traditional thread for kite flying, the commissioner said Chinese manja was coated with plastic and other synthetic material, which can sever the fingers of the children and the neck of two-wheeler riders if they run into it. The metallic substances on the Chinese manja can also cause electrocution if the thread comes into contact with power lines, he warned.

Two years ago, an armyman died after his throat was slit by the Chinese Manja while he was riding his two-wheeler to work at Golconda.

Since the synthetic Chinese manja is not biodegradable, it causes severe harm to the environment. It can remain in the soil for years without decomposition. Under the Environment Protection Act of 1986, there is a complete ban on the manufacture, sale, storage and use of this kind of manja.

The police commissioner urged the residents of the city to inform the police if they found anyone selling or using Chinese manja.

Uttar Pradesh Minister of State for Excise and Prohibition (Independent Charge) Nitin Agarwal has informed that a revenue of Rs. 39,695.73 crore has been collected till December in the financial year 2025-26, which is 14.91 per cent, or Rs. 5,151.64 crore, more than the revenue of Rs. 34,544.09 crore collected till December in the previous year 2024-25.

The Minister stated that the target for the state till December 2025 was set at Rs 43,400.00 crore but 91.46 per cent of the revenue target for the financial year 2025-26 has been achieved.

In December 2025, a revenue of Rs. 4,551.62 crore was collected, which is 9.90 per cent, or Rs. 409.87 crore, more than the revenue of Rs. 4,141.75 crore collected in December 2024 of the previous year 2024-25.

Agarwal further informed that during daily enforcement operations in December 2025, a total of 9,679 cases were registered in the state for the manufacture, sale, and smuggling of illicit liquor, and 2.43 lakh liters of illicit liquor and narcotics were recovered. 1,754 persons involved in the illicit liquor trade were arrested, 313 persons were sent to jail, and 18 vehicles involved in the smuggling of illicit liquor were seized.

The excise minister stated that under the special enforcement campaign conducted from December 24, 2025, to January 5, 2026, a total of 2,871 cases have been registered across the state for the manufacture, sale, and smuggling of illicit liquor. 59,823 liters of illegal liquor and narcotics have been seized. 515 individuals involved in the illicit liquor trade have been arrested, and 95 of them have been sent to jail. Two vehicles involved in the smuggling of illegal liquor have also been seized.

Heritage enthusiasts explored the Maratha era Muchukunda Somnath Temple in Odisha’s Jagatsinghpur town, a place of worship that does not merely stand in space, but stands in layers of time.

The temple is commonly believed to belong to the post-Mughal period, particularly the phase associated with Maratha influence in Odisha. This attribution is based primarily on architectural typology, regional historical context, and comparative stylistic observation; it must be noted, however, that no epigraphic evidence has yet been identified at the site. Even so, while the shrine may not be “very ancient” by early medieval standards, it is not young either, and its architecture carries a distinct regional stamp, said Srikanta Singh, Convener Jagatsinghpur Heritage Walks.

Built with a stone “peedh deula” style “vimana” and “jagamohan”, the structure rises to about thirty feet, presenting a compact yet typical of many Odishan Shaiva shrines. Within the sanctum sanctorum, the Shiva Lingam and the stone pillars associated with “navagraha” worship are notably old, suggesting that the sacred nucleus of the site preserves an antiquity that predates the visible superstructure. This observation, however, remains interpretative and would benefit from archaeological investigation.

On the temple’s sides is the companion deities worshipped in Shaiva tradition, Lord Ganesha, Lord Kartikeya, and Mother Parvati.

Although the idols today sit beneath thick layers of chemical paint, the underlying sculptural form remains partially legible. When sculpture is read as one would read a manuscript, shape, proportion, and workmanship suggest stylistic features that point toward the Somavansi period.

This inference gains strength when examining details such as the crown and head-ornament styles of the figures, and the Gandharva–Vidyadhara motifs carved near the upper portions, whose compositional grammar echoes earlier medieval sculptural conventions.

Within the same temple complex stands an ancient image of Umamaheshwar, likewise associated with Somavansi sculptural idioms. Local worshipers have played an important role in identifying its antiquity, particularly by referring to the idol’s appearance when it is undressed or free from recent coatings. While such community knowledge is invaluable for heritage understanding, it is treated here as supplementary to formal art-historical analysis. Time has not been gentle with the image, which bears visible damage.

A broken idol of Shri Vishnu is also present within the complex, suggesting either an earlier Vaishnavite presence, shared sacred geography, or the long Odishan tradition of allowing multiple devotional strands to coexist within a single ritual landscape rather than indicating sectarian displacement.

The Muchukunda Somnath Temple is not merely a stop on a heritage walk. It is an evolving sacred landscape where stone, story, and community practice intersect, and where time does not move linearly but gathers in cycles. Prominent among the participants are convenor of Odisha Heritage Walks Biswaranjan Dehury, retired teacher Utkal Moganty, writer Basanta Manjari Dash and journalist Sashanka Panda and Hemanta Dash.

Former Australia batter Damien Martyn is showing strong signs of recovery after being brought out of an induced coma while undergoing treatment for meningitis, with close friend and former teammate Adam Gilchrist hailing the improvement as “miraculous”.

The 54-year-old has been hospitalised at the Gold Coast University Hospital, where he is now able to speak and respond to those around him. He is also expected to be shifted out of the intensive care unit as his condition continues to stabilise. News of his illness earlier this week had prompted an outpouring of concern and support from across the global cricketing fraternity.

Providing an update on Sunday night, Gilchrist highlighted the rapid improvement in Martyn’s condition over the past two days. “It’s been an unbelievable turn of events in the last 48 hours,” Gilchrist said in a statement.

“He has responded extraordinarily well since coming out of the coma, to the point where his family feels it’s almost a miracle. He’s in good spirits and overwhelmed by the support, and while there is still treatment and monitoring to go, it’s looking very positive.”

Gilchrist also conveyed a message of gratitude from Martyn’s wife Amanda, who believes the widespread support played a significant role in his recovery.

“His wife Amanda just really wants to say to everyone she is convinced that the love, goodwill and sense of care that they felt from everybody, via messages and via the coverage in the press really helped him. They just feel blessed so many people have wanted to support him in his time in need.

“He will remain in hospital and continue to receive treatment but the turnaround has been miraculous,” Gilchrist added.

Continuing the war against drugs, “Yudh Nashian Virudh,” launched by Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann to eradicate the drug menace from the state, Punjab Police on Monday carried out operations for the 310th consecutive day.

During the statewide crackdown, raids were conducted at 223 locations, leading to the arrest of 65 drug smugglers and the registration of 54 First Information Reports (FIRs). With these arrests, the total number of drug smugglers apprehended over the past 310 days has risen to 43,326.

The raids resulted in the recovery of 657 grams of heroin, 440 intoxicant tablets/capsules, and ₹2,630 in drug money from the possession of the arrested smugglers.

Notably, Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann has directed Commissioners of Police, Deputy Commissioners, and Senior Superintendents of Police to make Punjab a drug-free state.

To monitor and strengthen the campaign, the Punjab Government has also constituted a five-member Cabinet Sub-Committee, led by Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema, to oversee the war against drugs.

More than 100 police teams, comprising over 700 police personnel and operating under the supervision of 48 gazetted officers, conducted the 223 raids across the state. During the day-long operation, police teams also checked as many as 242 suspicious persons.

The state government has adopted a three-pronged strategy—Enforcement, De-addiction, and Prevention (EDP)—to eradicate drugs from Punjab. As part of the ‘De-addiction’ initiative, Punjab Police also persuaded 22 individuals to undergo de-addiction and rehabilitation treatment on Monday.

Samajwadi Party National President Akhilesh Yadav on Monday said that the fundamental character of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is anti-democratic.

Alleging misuse of power, Yadav said, “The BJP is misusing its authority through the ongoing Socio-Economic Survey (SES). The NRC process is conducted by the Ministry of Home Affairs, but the government is using the Election Commission to carry out NRC-related work through the SES.”

On Monday, hundreds of workers, leaders, youth, intellectuals, doctors, professors, and religious figures from various districts met Akhilesh Yadav at the Samajwadi Party state headquarters in Lucknow to extend New Year greetings and pledged to form a Samajwadi Party government in the state in 2027.

Yadav said that the BJP represents negative ideologies and does not respect the Constitution or democracy. He alleged that the party makes false promises to the people and keeps the public in constant distress. “Since the BJP government came to power, people have been made to stand in queues,” he said.

He further stated that the Samajwadi Party follows the path shown by the Constitution and is always ready to protect democracy. Describing the 2027 Assembly election as crucial, Yadav said the BJP government has ruined Uttar Pradesh. “To stop the destruction and ensure the development of the state, a Samajwadi Party government must be formed,” he added.

Yadav also accused the BJP government of betraying farmers, youth, women, and traders. He said that inflation, unemployment, corruption, injustice, and atrocities are at their peak under the BJP rule.

“The public is fed up with the misgovernance of the BJP government and is troubled by its dishonesty and plunder. The people will defeat the BJP in 2027 and put an end to its misrule,” he asserted.

US law enforcement agencies on Monday arrested a suspect following an attack on Vice President JD Vance’s Ohio home. Several windows of his home were broken after what is being called a suspected shooting attack.

According to media reports, the Vance family was not at home at the time of the incident, which is being probed by the US Secret Service.

The Secret Service called the police to the Vance family residence in Cincinnati at 12.15 am after seeing the suspect “running eastbound”.

The incident comes days after the US attacked Venezuela and captured its President, Nicolas Maduro, and first lady, Cilia Flores, from their residence in Caracas.

Iran, China demand Nicolas Maduro’s release; Rubio says Trump ‘retains optionality’ on occupying Venezuela

Vance reportedly stayed at his Cincinnati residence during the US operation in Venezuela on Saturday. He watched the operation on a secure line and left on Sunday afternoon.

Neither Vance nor the White House has so far issued any statement on the attack, and more details are awaited.

Last year, Vance was booed by the audience during a National Symphony Orchestra concert at Washington’s Kennedy Centre.

The US Vice President also faced protests in Vermont, where he had gone for a vacation with his wife, Usha Vance. The protesters were reportedly angry after Vance and US President Donald Trump’s angry exchange with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at the White House.

The two-day All India Executive Committee meeting of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) formally commenced on Monday at Keshav Dham in the holy city of Vrindavan.

Top RSS leaders and key functionaries from across the country are participating in the meeting. The primary objective is to review the current situation in the country and formulate a roadmap for the organisation’s future programmes.

RSS Chief Dr Mohan Bhagwat, General Secretary Dattatreya Hosabale, and all six Joint General Secretaries are present at the meeting. Senior pracharaks and representatives from various provinces of the RSS Executive Committee are also attending. Strict security arrangements have been put in place at the Keshav Dham परिसर, and the meeting is being held entirely behind closed doors.

According to sources, a major agenda item of the meeting is the proposed “Hindu Conference.” The RSS aims to expand its outreach to every village in the country. Detailed discussions are underway on organising Hindu conferences at the village level nationwide. The organisation seeks to promote social harmony and Hindu unity at the grassroots, thereby strengthening social cohesion.

During the meeting, the situation of Hindus in Bangladesh was also discussed at length. Sources said the RSS leadership has expressed serious concern over incidents of violence and killings of Hindus in Bangladesh. The organisation may pass a significant resolution on the issue or formulate a strategy for effective intervention at the international level through the Government of India.

The meeting is being held in three sessions. The first session focused on reviewing organisational activities, while the subsequent sessions are addressing contemporary national issues, social challenges, and plans for the RSS in the post-centenary period.

This meeting in Vrindavan is being viewed as highly significant, not only from the organisation’s perspective but also in terms of the country’s broader social and political direction.

The Chief Secretary of the Union Territory of Ladakh, Ashish Kundra, on Monday stressed developing Ladakh as a high-value, sustainable tourism destination on the lines of Bhutan, focusing on quality tourism and high-spending visitors rather than mass tourism, while preserving the fragile ecology and cultural heritage of the region.

Kundra was holding an interactive session with JKAS cadre officers posted in Leh district. The interaction aimed at fostering open dialogue, understanding ground realities, and strengthening people-centric governance in the region.

Emphasising a non-hierarchical and open work culture, Kundra urged officers not to be constrained by rigid administrative structures but to think independently and innovatively in addressing public issues.

He laid strong emphasis on regular field visits, stating that unless officers reach villages and remote areas, it is difficult to fully understand the grievances and basic needs of the people. He highlighted issues such as mobile connectivity, access to essential services, and infrastructure gaps, and noted that local officers, being well-acquainted with the terrain and culture, are best positioned to bring meaningful change in their respective areas.

Stressing youth outreach, the Chief Secretary underlined that the youth will shape the future of Ladakh and should be encouraged to explore opportunities beyond conventional government jobs. He advocated promoting entrepreneurship, innovation, and skill development, particularly in sectors aligned with Ladakh’s unique strengths.

Kundra highlighted the important role of Leh Municipality in maintaining cleanliness, noting that Leh serves as the gateway to Ladakh and leaves a lasting first impression on visitors. He called for collective efforts to keep the city clean, organised, and welcoming. He emphasised the need for balanced and unified development of both Leh and Kargil districts, stating that inclusive growth across the Union Territory remains a core objective of the administration.

During the interaction, JKAS officers highlighted Ladakh’s unique and valuable assets such as pashmina, orchards, sea buckthorn, and the potential for youth entrepreneurship in pashmina-related activities, aviation, hospitality, winter tourism, and other allied sectors. Broader developmental concerns and region-specific challenges were also discussed.

The Chief Secretary assured the officers that their concerns and suggestions would be examined seriously and encouraged them to work collaboratively with a sense of purpose, innovation, and commitment to serve the people of Ladakh effectively.

Indian Railways has spent 80.54 per cent, i.e., ₹2,03,138 crore of the total Gross Budgetary Support (GBS) of ₹2,52,200 crore, as of the end of December 2025. .

This represents a 6.54 per cent increase in GBS utilization compared to the same period last year (December 2024). The expenditure has primarily focused on safety measures, capacity enhancement, infrastructure modernization, and passenger amenities.

In the category of safety-related works, 84 per cent of the allocated funds have been utilized. For capacity augmentation, out of a total of ₹1,09,238 crore allocated, ₹76,048 crore (69 per cent) has been expended. The fund for customer amenities has seen 80 per cent utilization, with expenditure amounting to ₹9,575 crore till December 2025.

The results of consistent capital expenditure (CAPEX) over the last decade are evident in 164 Vande Bharat train services, 30 Amrit Bharat train services, the implementation of the Kavach automatic train protection system, over 99 per cent electrification of the broad-gauge network, and extensive works covering new lines, gauge conversion, track doubling, traffic facilities, investments in PSUs, and metropolitan transport systems.

These initiatives have significantly improved speed, safety, and passenger comfort, while keeping rail travel affordable. With the Vande Bharat Sleeper train set for inauguration shortly, Indian Railways is poised to transform long-distance rail travel.

These trends indicate that the Ministry of Railways’ GBS expenditure plan is on track, with infrastructural works being executed expeditiously. They also suggest that the targets for FY 2025-26 are likely to be fully achieved.

Two days after the United States attacked Venezuela and captured its president along with his wife Cilia Flores, two of the country’s closest allies, China and Iran, have called on Washington to free Nicolas Maduro.

China said it is closely monitoring the situation in Venezuela, with its foreign ministry calling the US actions “a clear violation of international law and basic norms governing international relations”.

Beijing urged the US to “cease efforts to subvert the Venezuelan government and resolve issues through dialogue and negotiation”.

China had earlier also, over the weekend, denounced the US actions in Venezuela.

‘Ready to expand operations beyond Venezuela, if required’: Trump threatens Cuba, Colombia, Mexico

Iran, meanwhile, called the removal of Maduro, along with his wife, from the country a “kidnapping”.

News agency AFP quoted foreign ministry spokesman Esmail Baqaei as saying: “It’s nothing to be proud of; it’s an illegal act. As the Venezuelan people have emphasised, their president must be released.”

It may be noted that US President Donald Trump, who authorised the action in Venezuela, has also threatened Iran, saying he would be forced to intervene if the regime kills people who are protesting peacefully there. Iran has reported several deaths amid the ongoing protests.

Rubio lists Trump’s options

Meanwhile, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has said that President Trump retains the option to occupy Venezuela.

Rubio told the ‘Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan’ that President Trump “always retains optionality on anything and on all of these matters”, when asked if Washington had plans to occupy Venezuela.

“He certainly has the ability and the right under the Constitution of the United States to act against imminent and urgent threats against the country,” Rubio said on the show.

Trump had earlier said that he is “not afraid” to have (American military) “boots on the ground” in Venezuela.

‘We need Greenland,’ says Donald Trump after Venezuela operation; Denmark says territory not for sale

Rubio said the status in Venezuela currently “is an oil quarantine that allows us to exert tremendous leverage over what happens next”.

It may be noted that Venezuela has the biggest crude oil reserves in the world, with Trump stating in his press conference post Maduro’s capture that the US will run Venezuela until a safe transition can happen and that US oil companies would go into Venezuela and invest billions to revive oil production there.

“The key to what that regime relies on is their economy fueled by oil,” Rubio said. “None of the money from the money from the oil gets to the people, it’s all stolen by the people that are on the top there. And so that’s why we have a quarantine,” he added.

Two-time Olympic medallist PV Sindhu will make a comeback at the Malaysia Open 2026. This will mark her first appearance on the international circuit since the China Masters in September 2025, where she reached the quarter-finals. 

 The season-opening BWF Super 1000 tournament will get underway on Tuesday, January 6, at the Axiata Arena in Kuala Lumpur; she is expected to play the match against Sung Shuo-yun.

 The 30-year-old, currently ranked 18th in the BWF women’s singles rankings, has not played on the BWF World Tour since her quarter-final defeat to Paris 2024 Olympic champion An Se Young at the China Masters in September. Sindhu was sidelined due to a foot injury and was under rehabilitation. She is also expected to lead India’s women’s team at the Badminton Asia Team Championships 2026 in February.

India will also be represented in the women’s singles draw by Malvika Bansod and young shuttler Unnati Hooda, who will be aiming to make an impression in the strong field.

Lakshya Sen and Ayush Shetty will lead the Indian contingent in men’s singles. Both players will be keen to find consistency after mixed results and several first-round exits over the past seasons.

Former world championships bronze medallists Chirag Shetty and Satwiksairaj Rankireddy are India’s men’s doubles hopes.  The pair are seeded third in Kuala Lumpur and will be eager to repeat their success at the Malaysia Open, where they emerged champions in 2024.

In women’s doubles, Treesa Jolly and Gayatri Gopichand will headline India’s challenge. The duo will enter the tournament on the back of a confidence-boosting title defence at the Syed Modi International last month.

Tanisha Crasto, a Paris 2024 Olympian, will partner with Dhruv Kapila to represent India in the mixed doubles. Ranked world No. 17, the pair will be looking to make a strong start to their 2026 campaign at the prestigious event. 

Confirming his return to domestic cricket, Shreyas Iyer was on Monday appointed captain of the Mumbai team for ongoing Vijay Hazare Trophy. He will take over from Shardul Thakur, who has been ruled out of the domestic 50-over tournament due to an injury.

“The MCA is pleased to announce that Shreyas Iyer has been appointed as the captain of the Mumbai senior men’s team for the remaining league matches of the Vijay Hazare Trophy,” the association said on Monday.

Iyer’s participation beyond the league stages of the Vijay Hazare Trophy could be subject to clearance from the Board of Control for Cricket in India’s (BCCI) Centre of Excellence, with the batter included in India’s squad for the upcoming three-match ODI series against New Zealand starting in Baroda on January 11. The first ODI is scheduled just a day before the VHT knockout stage begins on January 12.

While announcing the ODI squad, the BCCI had clarified that Iyer’s selection was subject to a fitness assessment, following which he would link up with the national side if cleared. If Iyer is cleared for international return, the Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) will need to appoint a new captain for the knockout phase of the premier domestic 50-over tournament.

Iyer has been sidelined for over three months after undergoing surgery in Australia for a spleen injury sustained during the third ODI against Australia in Sydney last October, when he fell while attempting a catch.

Mumbai’s next league fixture, scheduled for Tuesday, will mark his return to competitive cricket. Mumbai are currently placed second in Group C and are well positioned to qualify for the knockouts. They face Himachal Pradesh on January 6 and Punjab on January 8, with both matches to be played at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium in Jaipur.

In an effort at making Prime Minister Narendra Modi closer to Tamil culture and shedding the saffron party’s northern tag, Union Home Minister Amit Shah kicked off the Pongal celebrations with his participation at the ‘Modi Pongal’ organised by the BJP state unit at Trichy on Monday.

Attired in the traditional Tamil dress code of white dhoti and shirt with an angavastram (long towel), Shah took part in the ‘Modi Pongal’ in which women cooked Pongal (rice with jaggery, milk and ghee) in 1008 clay pots. According to the BJP Women’s Wing, the organisers of the event held at Mannarpuram in the city had drawn more than 2000 women.

Pongal, the single most important festival celebrated for five days in Tamil Nadu in the second week of January, is considered the cultural expression of the Tamils. The saffron party has taken up the festival as a tool to reach out to a wider section. For, the DMK has been holding ‘Equality Pongal’ across the state on the first day of the festival on January 14, the first day of the Tamil month ‘Thai’. Along with Shah, Union Minister L Murugan, State BJP president Nainar Nagendran, women’s wing national president Vanathi Sreenivasan and MLA, K Annamalai participated in the programme.

Earlier in the day, Shah worshipped at the ancient Sri Jambukeswarar-Akilandeswari temple at Thiruvanaikaval and the famed Sri Ranganatha Swamy temple in Sri Rangam on the banks of the Cauvery.

On Sunday, addressing a massive rally in Pudukottai to mark the culmination of Nainar’s state-wide yatra, the BJP leader painted the DMK government as the most corrupt in the country and alleged that the sole agenda of Chief Minister MK Stalin was to coronate his son after him.

Describing the Piprahwa relics as living reminders of the Buddha’s message, a forum of eminent scholars discussed that Buddhism’s global acceptance is rooted in its philosophical depth and ethical universality.

On the occasion of the inauguration of the Grand International Exhibition of the Sacred Piprahwa Relics by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, a panel discussion on “Buddhist Philosophy” was organised at the Rai Pithora Cultural Complex, New Delhi.

The session was chaired by Prof Siddharth Singh, Vice-Chancellor, Nava Nalanda Mahavihara (Deemed University), Nalanda. In his address, Prof Singh observed that the Buddha’s teachings spread across the world not through force or coercion, but through dialogue, ethical conduct, and personal example.

He emphasised that Buddhism, like other Dharma-based traditions, seeks the purification of the human mind and the alleviation of suffering rather than proselytisation. He further noted that the Buddha’s relics continue to sustain living traditions by connecting contemporary practitioners with the historical Buddha, and that the repatriation of the Piprahwa relics represents an act of shared stewardship rather than ownership.

Panelist Prof Nalin Kumar Shastri stated that the repatriation of the Piprahwa relics reflects the renewed relevance of Buddhist philosophy as a guide for peace and integrated national development. He highlighted that Buddhist thought bridges ancient wisdom with contemporary concerns such as ethical governance, environmental sustainability, and mental well-being.

Prof Anand Singh highlighted that the relics of the Buddha and his disciples function as symbolic embodiments of the Dhamma, integrating both the living presence of the Buddha and his teachings.

Prof Bala Ganpathi reaffirmed India’s civilisational role as the Motherland of Dhamma and observed that Buddhist philosophy offers a practical and humane framework for peace, coexistence, and moral clarity in an increasingly fragmented world.

Prof Rajnish Mishra underscored the deep philosophical and textual continuities between Buddhist and classical Indian thought, highlighting the shared intellectual milieu of Śramaṇic and Brāhmaṇical traditions. He noted that centres such as Varanasi historically fostered dialogue, debate, and philosophical refinement.

Prof Ujjwal Kumar underlined the Buddha’s deliberate choice of Sarnath for delivering his first sermon and explained key doctrinal concepts, including the distinction between stūpa and cetiya.

The panel collectively acknowledged the concerted efforts of the Central government in facilitating the repatriation of the Piprahwa relics, describing it as a gesture of cultural stewardship, global goodwill, and India’s enduring commitment to peace and shared human values.

Ladakh Lieutenant Governor Kavinder Gupta on Monday met Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi and held detailed discussions on the overall development and welfare of the cold desert region.

The Lt Governor briefed the Prime Minister on key developmental initiatives, welfare schemes, and major infrastructure projects currently underway in Ladakh. He highlighted efforts being made to strengthen road and air connectivity, improve public infrastructure, and ensure the timely delivery of essential services in the geographically challenging and strategically significant region.

Kavinder Gupta also apprised the Prime Minister of initiatives aimed at promoting sustainable tourism, preserving Ladakh’s unique cultural and ecological heritage, and creating livelihood opportunities for local youth. Issues related to education, healthcare facilities in remote and border areas, and the implementation of Central Government schemes were also discussed in detail.

He emphasised the administration’s focus on inclusive growth, good governance, and people-centric development, particularly in far-flung areas that face harsh climatic conditions. He shared feedback from the grassroots regarding public aspirations and developmental needs, underlining the importance of continued Central support for accelerated progress in the Union Territory.

The Prime Minister appreciated the efforts being made for inclusive growth in Ladakh and reiterated the Centre’s continued support for the region’s all-round development and the welfare of its people.