**Summary: Indian Air Force Airlifts Sacred Buddhist Relics to Mongolia**
On May 30, 2026, the Indian Air Force (IAF) conducted a strategic mission to transport the sacred relics of Arahant Sariputta and Arahant Mahamoggallana—the chief disciples of Gautama Buddha—from Delhi to Mongolia. The mission was executed using an IL-76 strategic airlift aircraft, known as "Gajraj."
**Key Details and Timeline:**
* **Departure:** The aircraft undertook an overnight flight departing from Delhi on May 30, 2026.
* **Arrival:** The flight landed in Mongolia at 11:25 hrs IST on May 31, 2026.
* **Objective:** The mission aimed to strengthen cultural ties between India and Mongolia while supporting India’s global cultural outreach initiatives and national objectives.
**Administrative Information:**
* **Source:** Ministry of Defence, PIB Delhi.
* **Release ID:** 2267150.
* **Reference Initials:** JS/VK/GK.
* **Visitor Counter:** 3,903 (at the time of reporting).
Key Entities Referenced
Indian Air Force (IAF): The primary military wing responsible for executing the strategic airlift mission to transport sacred Buddhist relics.
Mongolia: The destination nation for the relics, central to this mission of strengthening bilateral cultural ties and diplomatic outreach.
Ministry of Defence: The governing ministry under which the airlift mission was conducted to support national and global cultural objectives.
Sacred relics of Arahant Sariputta and Arahant Mahamoggallana: The Buddhist artifacts belonging to the chief disciples of Gautama Buddha, which served as the central focus of this international cultural outreach.
Ministry of Defence
INDIAN AIR FORCE AIRLIFTS SACRED
BUDDHIST RELICS TO MONGOLIA
Posted On: 31 MAY 2026 10:36AM by PIB Delhi
An Indian Air Force IL-76 strategic airlift aircraft, Gajraj, transported the sacred relics of Arahant
Sariputta and Arahant Mahamoggallana, the chief disciples of Gautama Buddha from Delhi to Mongolia
on 30 May 2026. The aircraft undertook an overnight flight and landed in Mongolia at 1125 hrs IST.
The mission was undertaken by the IAF in support of India's efforts to strengthen cultural ties with
friendly nations.
The airlift reflects the IAF's capability to support national objectives and contribute to India's global
cultural outreach initiatives..***
JS/VK/GK
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