New Delhi: US special gift to PM Modi PM Modi has gone on a three-day visit to America. Apart from participating in the Quad summit here, the PM also held bilateral talks with US President Joe Biden. Meanwhile, America has given a special gift to PM Modi.

Actually, America has returned 297 antiques to India, which were smuggled from India.

America has returned 578 items so far

Since 2014, India has recovered 640 ancient artifacts from various countries. The US alone has returned 578 objects. Illicit trafficking of cultural property is an age-old issue that has affected many cultures and countries throughout history and India is particularly affected by it. 

Apart from the current visit, Modi's previous visits to the USA have also been fruitful particularly in terms of return of antiquities to India.

PM Modi expressed gratitude

On America returning the antiquities, Modi said on Christmas, 

Officials said that during his visit to the US in 2021, 157 rare items were handed over by the US government, including an exquisite 12th century bronze Nataraja statue. Also, a few days after his visit to the US in 2023, 105 antiquities were returned to India.