National News

Indian International Film Festival (IFFI) 2025

• The 56th edition of the Indian International Film Festival (IFFI) 2025 will be held from 20 to 28 November 2025 in Panaji, Goa.
• IFFI 2025 will showcase an extraordinary lineup of over 240 films from 81 countries, including 13 World Premieres, 5 International Premieres, and 44 Asian Premieres.
• A record 2,314 entries received from 127 countries reflects the festival’s growing global popularity.

Related Facts:

32nd Meeting of the Northern Zonal Council Held

• Union Home Minister Amit Shah chaired the 32nd meeting of the Northern Zonal Council in Faridabad, Haryana, on 17 November 2025.
• Chief Ministers, Lieutenant Governors, and administrative officers from Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Punjab, Rajasthan, Delhi, Jammu & Kashmir, Ladakh, and Chandigarh participated in the meeting.

Zonal Councils:

Honors and Awards

‘Sons of the Soil Awards Assam 2025’

• Union Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal honored five young talents of Assam with the ‘Sons of the Soil Emerging Achievers Award’ at the 5th biennial ‘Sons of the Soil Awards Assam 2025’ organized by Care Luit.

These five young achievers are:

National Gopal Ratna Award – 2025

• The National Gopal Ratna Award 2025 has been announced with the objective of promoting the conservation of indigenous milch breeds and scientific animal husbandry.

Best Dairy Farmers Rearing Indigenous Cattle and Buffalo Breeds:

Appointments

Appointment of Chief Staff Officer of WNC

• Rear Admiral Satish Vasudev has assumed charge as the Chief Staff Officer (Operations) of the Western Naval Command.

Indian Navy:

Person In News

Death Anniversary of Lala Lajpat Rai

• Every year on 17 November, tributes are paid to Lala Lajpat Rai on his martyrdom day.
• He lost his life on 17 November 1928 due to injuries sustained during a police lathi charge in Lahore.

Lala Lajpat Rai:

Passing Away of ‘Vrikshamata’ Saalumarada Thimmakka

• Karnataka’s ‘Vrikshamata’ (Mother of Trees) Saalumarada Thimmakka has passed away at the age of 114 years.
• Thimmakka planted and nurtured 385 banyan trees along a 4.5 km stretch from Hulikalu to Kudur in Ramanagara district of Karnataka, caring for them like her own children.
• She was honored with the Padma Shri Award in 2019.

Art and Culture

Sabarimala Pilgrimage (Mandala–Makaravilakku)

• The Sabarimala hill shrine of Lord Ayyappa was opened on 16 November 2025 for the annual Mandala–Makaravilakku pilgrimage.
• This pilgrimage began on the first day of the Malayalam month ‘Vrischikam’.
• Mandala Pooja will be held on 27 December, and the Makaravilakku festival will be celebrated on 14 January 2026.

Sabarimala Pilgrimage (Mandala–Makaravilakku):

Economy and Banking

Ambaji Marble GI Tag

• Ambaji marble from Gujarat has been granted a Geographical Indication (GI) tag.

Related Facts:

India–USA LPG Import Agreement

• India has entered into a significant LPG (Liquefied Petroleum Gas) import agreement with the United States for the first time.

Related Facts:

Important days

National Epilepsy Day

• National Epilepsy Day is observed in India every year on 17 November.

National Epilepsy Day:

Sports News

Jammu Midnight Marathon Organized

• The Jammu Midnight Marathon was organized by the Jammu & Kashmir Sports Council in collaboration with Real Time Sports.
• This marathon will be held at Maulana Azad Stadium, Jammu.
• It includes a 42.2 km (Full Marathon), 21.1 km (Half Marathon), and a 10 km run.

GT Open Indoor World Series 2025

• Indian archer Kushal Dalal won the men's compound title at the GT Open Indoor World Series held in Luxembourg.
• India’s Ganesh Maniratnam Thirumuru won the bronze medal in the Under-21 Men's Compound category.

GT Open Indoor World Series: