State PCS - Uttar Pradesh (UP PCS)

• 01 Nov 2025

Exhibition of Buddha’s Sacred Relics in Sarnath

Why in News?

The sacred relics of Lord Buddha will be exhibited to the public at Mulagandha Kuti Vihar in Sarnath from 3rd- 5th November, 2025, to mark the 94th anniversary of the Vihar, the historic site where Buddha delivered his first sermon, the Dharmachakra Pravartana.

Key Points

• About the Event: The three-day ceremony is being organised by the Maha Bodhi Society of India, Sarnath Centre, in collaboration with the Venerable Vietnamese Sangha and devotees from Hanoi.
• About the Relics: The relics housed beneath the golden Buddha statue inside the Vihar date back over 2,600 years.
  • One relic was discovered in the ancient Gandhara region and gifted to the Maha Bodhi Society in 1956.
  • Another relic was unearthed from Nagarjunakonda (Andhra Pradesh), preserved in an inscribed stone box confirming its authenticity.
  • These relics are displayed only twice a year on Buddha Purnima and Kartik Purnima making this exhibition a spiritually significant occasion.
    • Buddha Purnima (Vesak) commemorates the birth, enlightenment, and Parinirvana of the Buddha, symbolising the full cycle of his spiritual journey.
    • Kartik Purnima, the full-moon day of the Kartik lunar month, is traditionally associated with the Buddha’s return to the human realm after higher-realm teaching, marking renewal and compassion.
• Global Participation: Monks, devotees, and pilgrims from India, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Myanmar, Cambodia, Nepal, Japan, and other countries will attend, reaffirming Sarnath’s role as a symbol of Buddhist unity and heritage.
• Spiritual Significance: The exhibition offers devotees a rare opportunity to witness and pay homage to the sacred relics, deepening their connection to the origins of Buddhism, which began at Sarnath over 2,500 years ago.

Mulagandha Kuti Vihar, Sarnath

• Built by the Maha Bodhi Society in 1931, Mulagandha Kuti Vihar stands near the Dhamek Stupa, marking the spot where Lord Buddha first taught the Dharma. 
• The Vihar’s interior features murals by Japanese artist Kosetsu Nosu and enshrines Buddha’s relics. It remains one of the most revered sites in the global Buddhist pilgrimage circuit.

Lucknow Designated UNESCO ‘City of Gastronomy’

Why in News?

Lucknow has been officially recognised by UNESCO as part of its Creative Cities Network (UCCN) under the “City of Gastronomy” category, acknowledging its centuries-old culinary legacy rooted in Awadhi cuisine and composite cultural heritage.

Key Points

• About: The announcement was made during UNESCO’s 43rd General Conference in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, marking a major global recognition for Lucknow’s food heritage and local innovation.
• Nomination Process: The Directorate of Tourism, Uttar Pradesh, prepared the nomination dossier, which was submitted to the Ministry of Culture on 31st January 2025. India officially nominated Lucknow on 3rd March 2025 for the “City of Gastronomy” tag.
• Cultural Heritage: The nomination highlighted traditional Awadhi dishes such as galouti kebab, nihari-kulcha, puri-kachori, tokri chaat, and desserts like malai gilori and makhan malai, which reflect the city’s Ganga-Jamuni tehzeeb, its unique blend of Hindu and Muslim cultural influences.
• Significance: The “City of Gastronomy” recognition will promote sustainable tourism, preserve traditional recipes, and support local artisans and chefs, aligning with India’s efforts to showcase its soft power through culture and cuisine.
• Other Indian Cities in UCCN: As of now, India has eight cities recognised under the UNESCO Creative Cities Network (UCCN).
• With Lucknow’s inclusion in 2025, the total rises to nine Indian cities in the network.

City	Category	Year of Designation
Jaipur	Crafts and Folk Art	2015
Varanasi	Music	2015
Chennai	Music	2017
Mumbai	Film	2019
Hyderabad	Gastronomy	2019
Srinagar	Crafts and Folk Art	2021
Gwalior	Music	2023
Kozhikode	Literature	2023
Lucknow	Gastronomy	2025

UNESCO Creative Cities Network (UCCN)

• Established in 2004, the UCCN connects cities that base their development on culture, creativity, and innovation.
• The network spans over 350 cities worldwide, covering fields such as Music, Film, Literature, Design, Gastronomy, Crafts and Folk Art, and Media Arts, promoting collaboration, cultural exchange, and sustainable urban development.

National Marine Fisheries Census 2025 Launched

Why in News?

The Union Minister of State for Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying, Shri George Kurian, launched the National Marine Fisheries Census (MFC) 2025 at ICAR–Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI), Kochi. 

• This marks India’s first fully digitised fisheries census, representing a major stride towards data-driven and technology-enabled marine governance.

Key Points

• About:
  • The National Marine Fisheries Census 2025 is a 45-day nationwide exercise designed to collect comprehensive data on India’s marine fishing sector.
  • It will cover 1.2 million fisher households across 4,000 marine fishing villages in nine coastal States and four Union Territories.
  • The enumeration will be conducted from 3rd November to 18th December, 2025.
  • The initiative is coordinated by the Department of Fisheries (DoF) under the Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying, with CMFRI as the nodal agency and the Fishery Survey of India (FSI) as the operational partner.
• Purpose and Objectives:
  • To create a comprehensive digital database of marine fishing communities, infrastructure, and socio-economic indicators.
  • To modernise fisheries management and improve welfare delivery through verified digital data.
  • To link all fishers with the National Fisheries Digital Platform (NFDP) for streamlined access to government schemes.
  • To facilitate better implementation of Pradhan Mantri Matsya Kisan Samridhi Sah-Yojana (PM-MKSSY) and Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY).
• Digitised and Real-Time Data Collection: For the first time, the Census adopts a fully digital mode, using two dedicated mobile applications developed by CMFRI to ensure accuracy, transparency, and efficiency.

Mobile Application	Core Function	Impact on the Census
VyAS Bharat	Data Capture and Geo-referencing	Used by field staff to collect socio-economic data from 1.2 million fisher households and key statistics. Links each data entry to a specific location through geo-referencing.
VyAS Sutra	Verification and Monitoring	Enables instant validation of field data and provides a centralised platform for live monitoring of the enumeration process across the country.