1 Raulane Festival: A sacred tribute to the winter fairies of Kinnaur
In the snow-capped valleys of Kinnaur, Himachal Pradesh , where every mountain peak seems to echo ancient tales, a magical winter celebration is held— the Raulane Festival . Rooted in folklore, spirituality, and community solidarity, this tradition symbolically bids farewell to the Sauni fairies —mystical goddesses believed to protect villagers during the harsh winter . Celebrated with mask dances, rituals, and devotion to the Nagin Narayan Temple, the festival is considered one of Himachal’s most ancient and preserved winter traditions.
2. ‘Ajeya Warrior’: Joint military exercise between India and Britain
The joint military exercise ” Ajeya Warrior 2025 ” between India and the UK began on Monday. The exercise is taking place at the Foreign Training Node of the Mahajan Field Firing Range in Rajasthan . This bilateral exercise will continue from November 17th to 30th, reinvigorating strategic cooperation between the two countries. This military exercise also symbolizes the growing strategic trust between the two armies. India’s participation is comprised of soldiers from the prestigious Sikh Regiment, renowned for their valor, discipline, and combat skills. Joint training with selected British Army soldiers aims to further strengthen interoperability. Initiated in 2011, Exercise Ajeya Warrior has now become the flagship joint training event between the two armies. Held every two years, it strengthens India and the UK’s long-standing defense cooperation.
3 Calcutta High Court’s historic decision: For the first time, an MLA’s membership has been cancelled under the anti-defection law.
The Calcutta High Court has issued a precedent-setting order, cancelling TMC leader Mukul Roy’s membership in the Legislative Assembly with immediate effect. A division bench comprising Justices Devangshu Basak and Mohammad Shabbar Rashidi delivered this ruling. This is the first time the High Court has directly revoked an MLA’s membership under the anti-defection law . Roy won the Krishnanagar North Assembly constituency on a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) ticket in the May 2021 Assembly elections. He subsequently joined the Trinamool Congress (TMC) in June 2021. Leader of the Opposition in the West Bengal Assembly , Suvendu Adhikari, and BJP MLA Ambika Roy filed a case in court under the anti-defection law after Mukul Roy left the party. The court also overturned an earlier order issued by Assembly Speaker Biman Bandyopadhyay, which stated that Roy remained a member of the BJP and therefore could not be removed. The court order said, “(Mukul Roy) has become disqualified under the Tenth Schedule of the Constitution and the Rules of 1986 with effect from June 11, 2021 and his nomination as Chairman of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) is also cancelled.”
4 SpaceX successfully launches NASA’s Sentinel-6B satellite
SpaceX successfully launched NASA ‘s ‘ Sentinel-6B ‘ satellite on Monday . This satellite has been designed to monitor rising sea levels . Sentinel-6B is an Earth-observing satellite , developed by NASA in collaboration with US and European partners. Its main task is to study the world’s oceans and measure changes in sea level. This satellite will advance the marine data collected over the last 30 years and help in making weather forecasts more accurate. This will greatly help in planning coastal areas, protecting critical infrastructure and disaster management.
5 Indian researchers have created a smart portable device that can instantly detect pesticides in water and food.
Researchers from the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Madras and Panjab University have jointly developed a device that effectively detects pesticides . This portable, automated optical instrument is capable of detecting pesticides in water, food, and the environment . It can detect extremely low concentrations of pesticide residues that pose a serious risk to humans and the environment. Traditional laboratory methods for detecting such residues are complex and expensive. In particular, the organophosphate malathion is expensive and time-consuming. Furthermore, they require skilled personnel. This innovation is supported by the Department of Science and Technology under the ” Technology Development and Transfer ” program. This device is easily deployable, user-friendly, and capable of detecting highly sensitive pesticides. The new ” Smart MDD (Malathion Detection Device) ” is a colorimetric (a method used to measure the concentration of a chemical compound in a solution) detection system that uses gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) coated with an aptamer molecule. These are designed to specifically recognize malathion.
6. Significant LPG import agreement with the US for the first time
Indian public sector oil companies have signed a one-year contract to import approximately 2.2 million tonnes per annum of LPG from the US Gulf Coast for the contract year 2026. This represents approximately ten percent of India’s annual LPG imports and is the first such structured US LPG contract for the Indian market. The Union Minister stated that this historic decision opens up one of the world’s largest and fastest-growing LPG markets to the US. Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister Hardeep Singh Puri stated that India is continuously striving to ensure affordable and reliable LPG supplies by diversifying its sourcing options. As part of this effort, a team of officials from Indian Oil, Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL), and Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited (HPCL) visited the US from July 21-24, 2025, and held discussions with major producers there. These discussions concluded successfully with the finalization of the contract, based on Mount Belvieu as the benchmark for LPG procurement.
7 Ambaji marble from Gujarat gets GI tag
In a major recognition of India’s rich cultural heritage and natural resources, Ambaji marble —renowned for its milky white color and historical significance— has been granted the prestigious Geographical Indication (GI) tag . The certificate was issued by the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry. The Ambaji marble quarries are believed to be approximately 1,200 to 1,500 years old. It is believed to have been used in the construction of the Dilwara Jain temples in Mount Abu, world-renowned for their magnificent marble art.
8 PM Modi meets 16th Finance Commission panel members, commission submits 2026-31 report
PM Modi met a delegation of members of the 16th Finance Commission on Monday . The delegation was led by the Commission’s Chairman, Dr. Arvind Panagariya . Earlier in the day, the 16th Finance Commission, led by Dr. Panagariya, submitted its report for the period 2026-31 to President Draupadi Murmu . The 16th Finance Commission was constituted by the government on December 31, 2023 , with Dr. Panagariya, former Vice Chairman of NITI Aayog, as its Chairman. The Commission has four members and is supported by Secretary Ritwik Pandey , two Joint Secretaries, and an Economic Advisor. The report was originally scheduled to be submitted by October 31. The government later extended the Commission’s tenure by one month to November 30. “The members of the 16th Finance Commission, led by Dr. Arvind Panagariya, Chairman, met President Draupadi Murmu and submitted the Commission’s report for 2026-31,” Rashtrapati Bhavan said in a post on Instagram. The recommendations of the 16th Finance Commission relate to the distribution of taxes between the Centre and the states for a five-year period beginning April 1, 2026.
In a historic moment of Buddhist heritage and inter-community cooperation , 17 Buddhist organizations from across India have come together for the first time to collectively organize the 20th annual International Tripitaka Chanting Ceremony at the Mahabodhi Temple in Bodh Gaya, Bihar . Held annually since 2006, the event will run from December 2-13, 2025 , followed by the traditional commemorative walk from the Jethian Valley to the bamboo grove of Venuvan in Rajgir . This historic unity marks a significant milestone in the evolution of the event, which has been led for two decades by Ms. Wangmo Dixie, Founder and Executive Director of the Light of Buddha Dharma Foundation International (LBDFI-USA).
10 Cervical cancer kills one woman every two minutes: UN
The United Nations (UN) reported on Monday that one woman dies every two minutes worldwide from cervical cancer —even though the disease is preventable and treatable . This information was shared on the first-ever World Cervical Cancer Elimination Day . The World Health Assembly designated this day (November 17) to raise awareness and expand access to the HPV vaccine , improved screening, and treatment. The WHO stated that cervical cancer is preventable. Regular screening and timely treatment of pre-cancerous lesions, along with the HPV vaccine, protect women from the disease. According to the WHO, cervical cancer is the fourth most common cancer in women. In 2022, 6.6 million new cases were reported worldwide and 3.5 lakh women died. Nine out of 10 of these deaths occur in poor countries, where vaccination and screening facilities are limited. The main cause of cervical cancer is persistent infection with the HPV virus. Women infected with HIV are six times more at risk of developing this cancer. Doctors say that if detected early and treated early, cervical cancer is completely curable. HPV vaccination and screening are highly effective and cost-effective ways to prevent the disease. This year’s theme is ” Act Now: Eliminate Cervical Cancer, ”
and it emphasizes achieving the 90-70-90 target by 2030 :
- 90% of girls are vaccinated against HPV by the age of 15
- 70% of women between the ages of 35 and 45 receive high-level screening
- 90% of patients are treated on time