16th Edition of Urban Mobility India (UMI) Conference & Exhibition 2023 held in New Delhi, Delhi The Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs organized 16th Urban Mobility India (UMI) Conference & Exhibition 2023 in collaboration with the Institute of Urban Transport (India) and with the support ofDelhi Metro Rail Corporation Ltd. The event took place from October 27th to 29th, 2023, at the Manekshaw Centre, Parade Road, Delhi Cantt, New Delhi, Delhi.Urban Mobility India (UMI) Conference & Exhibition 2023:The event saw the participation of around 22 exhibitors from Metro Rail Companies, public and private sectors. Inaugurated by: Shri Hardeep Singh Puri. (Minister of Housing & Urban Affairs and Petroleum and Natural Gas) Theme: Integrated and Resilient Urban Transport Awards were presented to state/city authorities for their outstanding urban transport projects in various categories About Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs:Union Minister – Hardeep Singh Puri, (Rajya Sabha Constituency – Uttar Pradesh)Minister of State (MoS) – Kaushal Kishore (Mohanlalganj, Uttar Pradesh) USISPF honoured Nita Ambani with 2023 Global Leadership Award for Philanthropy & CSR Nita Ambani was honoured with the ‘2023 Global Leadership Award for Philanthropy and Corporate SocialResponsibility’ by The US-India Strategic Partnership Forum (USISPF) in an event held in New Delhi, Delhi.The award was presented by John Chambers who is the Chairman of USISPF.Nita Ambani received the award for her contribution towards women empowerment, supporting education, promoting Indian arts & culture (on a global platform) and developing sports in India. Key Points: Nita Ambani is the founder and Chairperson of Reliance Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Reliance Industries Limited (RIL). She is the spouse of Mukesh Ambani. She is a passionate advocate for women’s empowerment and children’s rights. About USISPF: The US-India Strategic Partnership Forum (USISPF) is a non-profit organization, which aims to strengthen the India-US bilateral and strategic partnership. It provides policy advocacy in the fields of economic growth, entrepreneurship, employment-creation, and innovation. Professor Sarang Deo of ISB Appointed to WHO’s Advisory Group for TB Professor Sarang Deo, Professor of Operations Management at the Indian School of Business (ISB) has been appointed as a member of the Strategic and Technical Advisory Group (STAG) for Tuberculosis (TB)by the World Health Organization (WHO).He will be a part of a 15-member expert group responsible for independently evaluating the WHO’s efforts in eradicating TB. Key Points: STAG-TB aims to play a crucial role in ending the tuberculosis epidemic and achieving the long-term goal of eradicating the disease globally STAG-TB provides cutting-edge scientific and technical guidance to WHO in its efforts to combat TB. It conducts independent evaluations of WHO’s strategic, scientific, and technical aspects related to TB. It also reviews the progress and challenges of WHO’s TB-related core functions and advises on priority activities for prevention and care.WHO’s Global Tuberculosis Programme serves as the Secretariat for STAG-TB China approves world’s first passenger-carrying flying taxi “Ehang’s EH216-S” Chinese drone startup EHang received the type certificate for Ehang 216-S (EH216-S), its electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft, from the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC), theChinese civil aviation authority under the Ministry of Transport With this, EH216-S becomes the 1st eVTOL vehicle in the world to be cleared for commercial use. The EH216-S air taxis are electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft capable of carrying two people or 600 pounds of cargo. They are propelled by 16 electric rotors and can fly at speeds of up to 80 miles per hour (mph) and a distance of up to 18 miles. National Unity Day (Rashtriya Ekta Diwas) 2023- October 31 National Unity Day or Rashtriya Ekta Diwas is annually observed across India on 31 October to commemorate the birth anniversary of the “Iron Man of India,” Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel (31 October1875), who was dubbed “Sardar” (chief) for his leadership skills. He was the first Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister of Independent India from 1947 to 1950. 31 October 2023 marks the 148th birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel. In 2014, the Government of India (GoI) led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi decided to observe Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel’s birth anniversary on October 31 as National Unity Day or Rashtriya Ekta Diwas. The day aimed to pay tribute to Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel for his great efforts to unite India. The first National Unity Day was observed on 31 October 2014. WB Governor Ananda Bose awarded the inaugural Durga Bharat Samman West Bengal (WB) Governor CV Ananda Bose presentedthe inaugural Durga Bharat Samman (2023) during the event organised at the Raj Bhavan in Kolkata, WB. During the event, he formally launched the “Mission Kala Kranti”, an initiative aimed at “promoting the art and culture of West Bengal and India”. The government of WB has organised the Durga Puja Carnival, showcasing the iconic idols of Goddess Durga, on 27th October 2023 in the Red Road, Kolkata, WB. About West Bengal: Chief Minister– Mamata BanerjeeGovernor– C. V. Ananda BoseZoological Parks– Alipore Zoological Garden and Bardhaman Zoological Park Manipur Celebrates Annual ‘Mera Hou Chongba’ Festival People of Manipur celebrated Mera Hou Chongba, the annual cultural festival of solidarity in Manipur at the Kangla Palace Compound in Imphal in Manipur. The event was organised by the Mera Hou ChongbaThoushil Lup.Manipur Chief Minister(CM) Nongthombam Biren Singh along with the titular king of Manipur Leishemba Sanajaoba attended the event. The festival marks the oneness of the growth of nationalism in Manipur and celebrates the bond of brotherhood, love, and unity. The celebration is intended to build and strengthen ties between Manipur’s hill tribes and valley people. The exchanges of gifts between hill tribes and valley people took place during the festival. The festival is being celebrated in Manipur since the period of Nongda Lairen Pakhangba, the god king of Manipur(1st century AD).