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• The Khasi community of Meghalaya celebrated the Shad Nongkrem Festival at Smit, the traditional capital of Hima Khyrim, located about 20 km from Shillong. This five-day annual festival is among the most important cultural and religious events of the Khasi tribe, symbolising thanksgiving for a bountiful harvest, prosperity, and communal harmony.

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• In a major environmental initiative, the Goa Waste Management Corporation (GWMC) has introduced a five-way waste segregation system in educational institutions. The decision was finalised during the 17th board meeting chaired by Chief Minister Pramod Sawant, marking a significant move toward sustainable and systematic waste management in the state.

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• Poland has announced its largest-ever defence training initiative, titled “At Readiness”, aimed at strengthening national resilience amid ongoing regional tensions triggered by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The programme, unveiled by Defence Minister Wladyslaw Kosiniak-Kamysz, represents Poland’s most ambitious security mobilisation effort since the Cold War.

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According to the International Wine and Spirits Record (IWSR) 2025 report, India has emerged as the fastest-growing alcohol market in the world for the first half of 2025, registering a 7% increase in total alcohol volume. This marks the third consecutive year that India has topped global alcohol market growth among 20 major economies, reflecting the country’s rising consumption and economic momentum.

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The Government of Maharashtra has launched the “Sardh Shatabdi Mahotsav” to commemorate the 150th anniversary of India’s national song, ‘Vande Mataram’. The celebrations began on 7 November 2025 at the Mantralaya’s Trimurti courtyard in Mumbai, inaugurated by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis. The initiative honours the song’s deep historical and emotional significance in India’s freedom movement.