IRCTC’s Discounted Buddhist Circuit Train Package The IRCTC has launched a 20 % discount on its 7‑night/8‑day Buddhist Circuit tour starting from Delhi Safdarjung. The move aligns with the Swadesh Darshan Scheme and the Union Budget 2026 emphasis on religious‑cultural tourism. Key Developments Discounted package covers major Buddhist sites: Bodh Gaya , Vaishali , Rajgir , Sarnath , Kushinagar , Shravasti (India) and Lumbini (Nepal). The circuit is the first trans‑national tourist circuit under the Buddhist Circuit , promoted to project India as the birthplace of Buddhism. Budget 2026 proposes a dedicated scheme for developing Buddhist circuits in the North‑Eastern states (Arunachal Pradesh, Sikkim, Assam, Manipur, Mizoram, Tripura) to showcase Theravada and Vajrayana traditions. Important Historical & Cultural Facts Lumbini (Nepal) – Birthplace of Gautam Buddha , son of King Suddhodana . At age 29, Buddha witnessed the four sights (old man, sick man, corpse, ascetic) and renounced royalty, later attaining enlightenment at Bodh Gaya . The Mahabodhi Temple retains the Vajrasana from Ashoka’s era. First sermon (Dhammachakka‑pavattana) delivered at Sarnath ; the Dhamek Stupa stands there. Kushinagar – site of Buddha’s Mahaparinirvana in 486 BC; relics distributed to eight stupas. First Buddhist Council held at Rajgir a century after Mahaparinirvana; subsequent councils at Vaishali, Patliputra, and Kashmir. UPSC Relevance Understanding the Buddhist Circuit is vital for both Pre‑lims (facts, dates, locations) and Mains (essay on cultural tourism, heritage management). The circuit illustrates how cultural tourism is leveraged in policy (Swadesh Darshan, Union Budget) to boost GDP and promote India’s soft power. Way Forward Students should monitor the implementation of the North‑Eastern Buddhist circuit scheme, assess its impact on regional development, and evaluate challenges such as cross‑border coordination with Nepal. Linking heritage conservation with community participation aligns with the Sustainable Development Goals and can be a strong point in answer writing for GS‑III (Tourism) and GS‑I (Ancient Indian History).