Current affairs 21 January 2023

India ranks 4th globally for Tech VC Investments in 2022.

• According to the report, released by the Dealroom and London & Partners, India ranked 4th globally with USD $24.1$ billion worth of venture capital (VC) investments in 2022.
• The United States of America (USA) with a USD $233.3$ billion tech investment topped the list, followed by China (USD 48 billion) and the United Kingdom(UK) (USD $29.9$ billion).
• As per the research, USD $10.7$ billion of the total tech investment to India went into Bengaluru-based companies.

TCS, Infosys rank among the most valuable IT services brands globally.

• According to Brand Finance’s rankings for 2023, four Indian companies have been featured in the list of the world’s top 10 most valuable IT service brands.
• Four Indian companies are TCS (2), Infosys (3), HCLTech (8), and Wipro (9).
• While Accenture has succeeded in retaining its position as the most valuable IT services brand for the fifth consecutive year.
• While IBM ranked fourth followed by Capgemini, NTT Data, Cognizant.

Friends Pushkum and Down Hill Kargil lifted 14 CEC Ice Hockey Cup 2023.

• The Friends Pashkum has lifted the 14th CEC Ice Hockey Cup 2023 in the men's category, after defeating the Humas Warriors Drass.
• While in the women's category, DownHill Kargil won the cup, after beating Wakha Mulbekh.
• CEC LAHDC Kargil, Feroz Ahmad was the chief guest of this event.
• The tournament was held in Ladakh and was participated by 27 teams, including 4 Women's teams.
• The efforts of the Rural Development Dept and Youths service and Sports Dept were appreciated.

Dr Sanduk Ruit conferred with Bahrain's ISA Award for Service to Humanity.

• Dr Sanduk Ruit (Nepalese ophthalmologist) was awarded the top civilian award of Bahrain, the ISA Award for Service to Humanity.
• He is a co-founder of the Himalayan Cataract Project.
• He is a pioneer in delivering high-quality microsurgical procedures in remote eye camps.
• The award carries a cash prize ($1 million), a certificate, and a gold medal.
• He was awarded the Honorary Officer of the Order of Australia (2007), the Ramon Magsaysay Award (2006), and Padma Shri (2018).

"Vigyanika — Science Literature Festival" event to be held in IISF, Bhopal.

• A Science Literature Festival Vigyanika will be organized from 22-23 January 2023 at the Indian International Science Festival (IISF), Maulana Azad National Institute of Technology, Bhopal.
• Science Literature Festival is being organized as part of the 8th IISF.
• In 2023, IISF is being coordinated and organized by the Ministry of Earth Sciences, Ministry of Science & Technology, and Vijnana Bharati.