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Topic 319 · History, Art & Culture

Return of India's antiquities: Chola plates and Piprahwa relics

10 MCQs · tap an option to check it · All answers

Revise the 12 points first Book 1 RATNA
  1. Core Trigger: On 16 May 2026 Leiden University Library restituted the Chola copper plates to India at a ceremony in The Hague.
  2. The Plates: The charters, 21 large and three small plates in Tamil and Sanskrit, record a village gift to a Nagapattinam Buddhist vihara.
  3. Current Head: Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, Union Culture Minister, said India had repatriated 666 antiquities.
  4. Seals: The 21-plate set bears Rajendra Chola I's seal; the three-plate set carries Kulottunga Chola I's.
  5. Returns: On 9 July 2026 Australia announced return of a granite Nandi, a bronze trident and a six-headed Skanda.
  6. Agreements: The Shiva Nataraja (c. 990 CE) stays in the US on loan until 2028; two other Smithsonian bronzes reached Delhi on 12 May 2026.
  7. India Link: Piprahwa relics returned on 30 July 2025, after Sotheby's Hong Kong postponed its 7 May 2025 auction.
  8. Venue: The plates go to the Archaeological Survey of India; Piprahwa is in Siddharthnagar district, Uttar Pradesh.
  9. Genesis: The plates reached the Netherlands in 1712 and were donated to Leiden in 1862.
  10. Landmark: The UNESCO 1970 Convention targets illicit trafficking; Articles 7 and 13 provide for restitution.
  11. Statute: Under the Antiquities and Art Treasures Act, 1972, a declared antiquity must be at least 100 years old.
  12. Definition: Provenance is an object's documented ownership history; restitution returns it to the rightful owner.
Question 1 of 10

On 16 May 2026, which institution restituted the Chola copper plates to India?

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Answer: (D) Leiden University Library

Core Trigger: On 16 May 2026 Leiden University Library restituted the Chola copper plates to India at a ceremony in The Hague.From Book 1 RATNA, topic 319, point 1

Question 2 of 10

The Chola copper plates record a village gift to a Buddhist vihara at which place?

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Answer: (C) Nagapattinam

The Plates: The charters, 21 large and three small plates in Tamil and Sanskrit, record a village gift to a Nagapattinam Buddhist vihara.From Book 1 RATNA, topic 319, point 2

Question 3 of 10

How many antiquities did Culture Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat say India had repatriated?

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Answer: (A) 666

Current Head: Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, Union Culture Minister, said India had repatriated 666 antiquities.From Book 1 RATNA, topic 319, point 3

Question 4 of 10

1. The 21-plate set bears Rajendra Chola I's seal. 2. The three-plate set also carries Rajendra Chola I's seal. Which is/are correct?

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Answer: (A) Only 1

Seals: The 21-plate set bears Rajendra Chola I's seal; the three-plate set carries Kulottunga Chola I's.From Book 1 RATNA, topic 319, point 4

Question 5 of 10

Which granite figure did Australia announce returning on 9 July 2026?

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Answer: (B) Nandi

Returns: On 9 July 2026 Australia announced return of a granite Nandi, a bronze trident and a six-headed Skanda.From Book 1 RATNA, topic 319, point 5

Question 6 of 10

The Piprahwa relics returned after which auction house postponed its 7 May 2025 sale?

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Answer: (A) Sotheby's Hong Kong

India Link: Piprahwa relics returned on 30 July 2025, after Sotheby's Hong Kong postponed its 7 May 2025 auction.From Book 1 RATNA, topic 319, point 7

Question 7 of 10

Piprahwa lies in which Uttar Pradesh district?

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Answer: (D) Siddharthnagar

Venue: The plates go to the Archaeological Survey of India; Piprahwa is in Siddharthnagar district, Uttar Pradesh.From Book 1 RATNA, topic 319, point 8

Question 8 of 10

In which year were the Chola plates donated to Leiden?

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Answer: (C) 1862

Genesis: The plates reached the Netherlands in 1712 and were donated to Leiden in 1862.From Book 1 RATNA, topic 319, point 9

Question 9 of 10

1. The UNESCO 1970 Convention targets illicit trafficking. 2. Articles 7 and 13 provide for restitution. Which is/are correct?

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Answer: (C) Both 1 and 2

Landmark: The UNESCO 1970 Convention targets illicit trafficking; Articles 7 and 13 provide for restitution.From Book 1 RATNA, topic 319, point 10

Question 10 of 10

Under the Antiquities and Art Treasures Act, 1972, a declared antiquity must be at least how old?

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Answer: (B) 100 years

Statute: Under the Antiquities and Art Treasures Act, 1972, a declared antiquity must be at least 100 years old.From Book 1 RATNA, topic 319, point 11

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