Biz Quizzard 870

 Presenting the current affairs quiz for the period November 23 - 28. Hope you enjoy it.

1. Which MNC has introduced Sakhi Drishtikon, an initiative to train and hire rural women in technical subjects and bring them into the mainstream workforce?

2. Which company will acquire 5.2% stake in solar power firm Avaada MHBuldhana for Rs 4.55 crore in an all-cash deal?

3. Unilever said it will bring to India its mouthwash formulation, which, it claims, will reduce 99.9% of coronavirus after 30 seconds of rinsing. What has it been branded as?

4. Which MNC has added a new X-Ray feature to its audio streaming service?

5. Which home pregnancy test kit brand has launched the campaign ‘#SundayIsMomDay’ to salute the indomitable spirit of ‘superheroes’ called ‘moms’ through pandemic?

6. Which life insurance company has launched the campaign ‘All-In-One Term Plan’?

7. Which MNC has revealed its white-label laptop – M15, a premium, precision engineered device, designed for its channel partners to configure and sell under their own brands?

8. UK-based ZNZ Pharma 2 Limited, a newly incorporated biopharmaceutical player, has acquired majority stake in which Hyderabad-based specialty generics player?

9. Which healthcare company last week said it would conduct Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR) test, known as the most decisive and crucial for COVID-19 testing, starting at Rs. 499 only?

10. In a first among central banks, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has become the first monetary authority in the world to have more than which milestone count of followers on its official Twitter handle?

11. Which cross-border remittance and financial services player has acquired 70% stake in AssureEdge Global Services, a Business Process Outsourcing (BPO)?

12. Which industry body elected Rajkiran Rai G, chief executive officer of Union Bank of India, as the chairman for 2020-21?

13. Which white cement brand has launched the campaign ‘#MaxXHaiNa’?

14. Which fast-moving consumer electrical goods brand has roped in Mary Kom as its brand ambassador?

15. Which noodles brand has launched the ‘Choose India’s Most Loved Taste’ campaign?

16. Which health and wellness brand has roped in celebrity couple Kareena Kapoor Khan and Saif Ali Khan as brand ambassadors?

17. Which spirits brand has launched the second chapter of its ‘Legacy Project’, an initiative that aims to support Indian art forms and artist communities?

18. Which content distribution and Pay TV platform has launched the campaign ‘#YahaSabDekha’ on account of World Television Day, featuring internet personality Yashraj Mukhate?

19. A social networking app for couples is all set to be launched in India in January 2021. What has it been branded as?

20. Solar tariffs recorded a new low of what price per unit in the latest auction by Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI)?

21. Which Bengaluru-based realty group has ventured into serviced residences under the Olive Residences brand?

22. Which education technology startup has acquired The Gate Academy for an undisclosed sum?

23. Which IT firm said it has been awarded a US patent for its deep learning-based framework, Autocode.AI that automates software code development?

24. Which online used car marketplace has secured $200 million in Series-E financing at a post-money valuation of just over $1 billion, catapulting the company into the unicorn club?

25. Which Switzerland-based hygiene products maker has roped in former Indian cricket team captain and BCCI president Sourav Ganguly as its brand ambassador for its masks and gloves?

26. Which martech company has acquired Hansel(dot)io, a real-time, no code, Product Experience (PX) platform in a cash and stock deal?

27. The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has rejected which company´s proposal to acquire IDBI Asset Management Company (AMC)?

28. Which BSE-listed financial technology solutions provider has entered Oman to offer payment processing services and tied up with Bank Muscat?

29. Which online dating platform has launched the campaign 'In Our Own Way'?

30. Tesla crossed which milestone market valuation mark last week?

31. Which social networking app has launched a new campaign with the first film ‘For your eyes only’, aimed at empowering and supporting its community to navigate the new rules of dating?

32. Which whiskey brand has launched a new campaign ‘Always in to Mix in!' for its Indian audience?

33. Which MNC has rolled out a digital campaign ‘#DeliverThanks’ to celebrate and thank its delivery associates, pickers, packers, sorters and other associates working in its fulfilment and delivery network?

34. Which nasal spray brand and audio streaming platform Gaana have partnered to create the idea of a Shubh Ratri – a specially curated playlist?

35. Which sports and fitness nutrition brand has roped in actor and martial artist Vidyut Jammwal as its brand ambassador?

36. Which educational services company, which provides comprehensive test preparatory services, has appointed Abhishek Maheshwari as its Chief Executive Officer (CEO)?

37. Which pharmaceuticals manufacturer has acquired a majority stake of 72.55% in biotechnology firm Richcore Lifesciences from PE firms Eight Roads and VenturEast for Rs 246.7 crore?

38. Which firm will set up the country’s second biosafety level (BSL) 3 viral antigen production facility in Telangana to produce a Covid-19 vaccine, for which it is working with Australia’s Griffith University?

39. ViacomCBS has agreed to sell Simon & Schuster to which company for more than $2 billion in a deal that will create the first megapublisher?

40. The market capitalisation of HDFC Bank went past which milestone mark in early trade on November 25, making it the first domestic lender to achieve the feat?

41. Which jewellery brand has launched the campaign 'Precious Moments. Made More Beautiful'?

42. Which staff management solutions provider has signed on actor Akshay Kumar as brand ambassador till 2022?

43. Which shampoo brand has launched the campaign “Hair fall nahi, ab sirf zindagi meri mutthi mein”?

44. Which consumer healthcare products maker last week announced the launch of global oral care and denture care brand Polident in India?

45. Which housing finance company has launched the campaign ‘Ek laddoo hamaare taraf se bhi kha lena’ for its new digital home loan platform?

46. Which medical technology company has launched its ‘Don’t Wait for Life’ campaign?

47. Which edible oil and foods brands is celebrating two decades of gracing the shelves of Indian kitchens through its new campaign?

48. Which celebrity has announced her start-up, Ed-a-Mamma that specialises in children's clothing for boys and girls?

49. Disney India last week forayed into the e-commerce space with the launch of its online marketplace. What is it called?

50. Mr Fakir Chand Kohli passed away last week at the age of 96. He was the founder and first CEO of which company?

51. Researchers at which education institute have developed an autonomous vehicle that can minimise human intervention with Covid-19 patients at hospitals?

52. Mahindra & Mahindra last week said it would sell its entire stake in Mahindra First Choice Services and Auto Digitech to which automobile services firm?

53. Adani Gas, the city gas distribution firm of billionaire Gautam Adani's group, will change its name. What is the new name?

54. Which company is planning to introduce its European tyre brand Vredestein in India early next year?

55. Which scooter brand has completed 20 years in India and has launched a 20th year anniversary edition?

56. Which personal care and beauty brand has launched its first national television advertisement with its new film on Onion hair oil?

57. Which personal wellness brand from Kerala has roped in Indian cricketer Sanju Samson as brand ambassador?

58. Which construction, renovation, interiors and home maintenance company has unveiled its brand mascot Joe?

59. Which two industry associations have unveiled a campaign titled ‘#KhulkeBoloThankYou’ in line with the upcoming Retail Employees Day celebrated on 12 December?

60. Which city has dethroned London to become the world´s most connected city as the coronavirus shakes up international travel, according to The International Air Transport Association (IATA)?

61. The initial public offer (IPO) of which quick service restaurant (QSR) chain will open for subscription between December 2 and 4 with a price band of Rs 59-60 per share?

62. Which Hinduja Group-owned integrated digital delivery platform has jumped on to the platform-as-a-service (PaaS) wagon in a first and signed contracts with three large MSOs for offering managed services?

63. Shekar Viswanathan has stepped down as the vice chairman of which automobile company?

64. Which company has acquired 49% stake in Alipurduar Transmission Ltd. from Kalpataru Power Transmission Ltd. (KPTL) at an enterprise valuation of Rs 1,300 crore?

65. James Wolfensohn, 86, died in US last week. He was the former president of which entity?

66. Which engineering firm last week said it has set a new record by successfully manufacturing and testing India’s highest-rated auto transformer?

67. Which electric vehicle (EV) solutions company last week appointed Devender Singh Rawat, former CEO and MD of Bharti Infratel, as its India CEO?

68. Which athletic inspired footwear, apparel, and accessories brand has launched the international 'Her Heritage' campaign in India, featuring actor and author Soha Ali Khan?

69. Which tyre brand has launched the digital firm "Heroes on the Road"?

70. Which company has announced that its UK subsidiary Optare Group Ltd has been renamed Switch Mobility Ltd, as part of its drive towards electrification and new mobility services?

Please mail your answers before 12 noon next Sunday to rajeevkondapalli@gmail.com with Biz Quizzard 870 as the subject. Answers will be mailed to those who attempt the current edition within the given time.

Happy learning!

rajeev kondapalli

Biz Quizzard 869

 Presenting the current affairs quiz for the period November 16 - 21. Hope you enjoy it.

1. Which company has acquired a 96% share in online furniture retailer Urban Ladder through an all-cash transaction for Rs 182 crore ($24 million)?

2. Which newly setup digital payments venture, set up by industry veterans ItzCash founder Naveen Surya, and Infibeam Avenues’ executive director Vishwas Patel, is taking shape as the first prospective New Umbrella Entity (NUE)?

3. Global private equity investor TA Associates is all set to acquire a controlling stake in which Mumbai-based nutraceutical ingredients company?

4. Which brand has launched Anti-Bacterial Toothbrush and signed actor Ayushmann Khurrana as brand ambassador?

5. Which MNC sold most of its stake in Japan's Seiyu to investment firm KKR and e-commerce company Rakuten in a deal valuing the supermarket chain at 172.5 billion yen ($1.65 billion)?

6. Which pet care solutions brand launched the campaign ‘True Burst Of Happiness’ for Diwali?

7. Which food company launched the ‘Chashni Wali Diwali’ festive campaign?

8. Which chocolate brand launched the campaign ‘Precious Like The People We Love’ for Diwali?

9. Which security solutions company launched the campaign ‘#SafeToCelebrate’?

10. Internet connections in India breached which milestone mark as of August 31, 25 years after public service was launched on August 15, 1995, as per latest Trai data?

11. Which battery on-road service brand launched the ‘The Diwali Invite’ ad film?

12. Which real estate and infrastructure development company has launched the campaign ‘Ghar ko bolo Happy Diwali’?

13. Which Andhra Pradesh-based company has agreed to acquire Punjab-based Modern Steel for Rs 125 crore?

14. Navneet Munot, the chief investment officer of SBI Mutual Fund, will be the new managing director and chief executive officer of which mutual fund?

15. Which company last week it said will buy out its smaller, troubled rival Asiana Airlines in a $1.6 billion deal?

16. Which Spain-based company will sell its US business to PNC Financial Services Group for $11.6 billion in cash, in one of the biggest global banking deals this year?

17. Which Indian company last week said it may become the world’s first company that operates in the carbon markets space to go in for an initial public offering (IPO)?

18. Which state-owned company last week announced appointment of Mahua Acharya as the head of its new subsidiary Convergence?

19. AM Arun died in Chennai last week at the age of 52. He was the founder of which eye care chain?

20. Maruti Suzuki India has sold over which milestone count of cars through the online channel since April 2019?

21. Which bank has announced the launch of ‘Mooh Band Rakho’, a campaign to increase awareness on cyber frauds and preventing them?

22. Which small finance bank has announced cricketer Smriti Mandhana as its new brand ambassador?

23. Which personal hygiene and sanitation brand has appointed cricketer Virat Kohli as its brand ambassador?

24. Which MNC has sold its Honor budget phone line to a domestic consortium in a move it said was necessary to keep the brand alive amid "tremendous" supply chain pressures caused by US sanctions?

25. Which company has acquired Scapic, an augmented reality (AR) company, for an undisclosed sum?

26. Which company has acquired majority stake in TalentSprint, a tech-enabled education platform for working professionals?

27. Which MNC is all set to join S&P 500 as largest ever new member?

28. Which toothpaste brand has launched the campaign ‘Ab Daant Hamesha 10/10’?

29. Which company has launched a campaign for the launch of its range of specialised sanding paper brand ‘TruStar’?

30. Which company will take over ailing Lakshmi Vilas Bank (LVB) in a bailout proposed by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI)?

31. Which brand recently launched a television commercial for its Code range of body perfumes with the tagline 'Enjoy The Start'?

32. Which digital financial services platform has launched three new ads on social media, as part of its new ‘#MoneyTransferHuaEasy’ campaign?

33. Which fintech company has launched its online shop and has released the first campaign for it, 'Chanderi ki Diwali'?

34. Russia’s Sputnik V Covid-19 vaccine was recently transported into India for clinical trials. Which logistics company was involved?

35. Tarun Katial has quit as the CEO of which video streaming service?

36. Which company last week said has completed the Rs 1,000-crore acquisition of Chennai-based Chettinad Group’s port business?

37. Microsoft has unveiled a new security chip that has been designed to protect the future Windows PCs. What is it called?

38. Which MNC last week unveiled its compact SUV Kiger?

39. Jawa Motorcycles has been relaunched in which country?

40. YM Deosthalee, 74, died in Mumbai last week after prolonged illness. He was the first chairman and managing director of which financial services company?

41. Which digital payments firm last week claimed it emerged the largest platform for buying ´Digital Gold´´ with over 35 per cent market share?

42. Which Singapore-based food products company has entered India and has launched its first campaign with the positioning 'Too Good to Gift'?

43. Which automobile company has launched the campaign ‘India ki Doosri Diwali’?

44. Which gifting portal has forayed into the digital video content segment with the launch of FNP Media?

45. Which company last week announced its entry into the home hygiene and home care space under a new brand Emasol?

46. Which food delivery startup has announced actor Ravi Kishan as the brand ambassador to reach out to its target audience across the country?

47. Advertising executive Vishwajeet Singh Rana has launched an exclusive designer menswear fashion label. What is it called?

48. Which plant-based nutrition brand, has launched a new brand campaign to establish its core proposition of ‘a better you in every way’?

49. Which footwear brand has launched its new brand campaign ‘Comfort Dikhta Hai’ promoting its range of PU, EVA and printed slippers?

50. Deposits in small savings schemes in the country for the first six months of the fiscal year (2020-21, or FY21) crossed which milestone mark?

51. Which technology services provider will complete the integration of its three Indian business entities in January and has appointed Sharad Sanghi as the leader of the combined entity?

52. Which MNC is making a global entry into airport retail through a tie-up with Airbuy, an Indian ecommerce startup that will provide services in six Indian airports?

53. Which shipping and logistics major has announced the rolling out of an array of solutions, to help its customers lighten their environmental footprint and make their cargo carbon neutral?

54. Which IT firm has acquired UK-based next-gen data engineering and consultancy company Datalytyx for up to 13.3 million pounds (about Rs 130.4 crore)?

55. Which skincare brand has announced a new campaign for its winter-care product, Honey & Almonds Body Lotion, featuring Bengali actor, Mimi Chakraborty?

56. Which hair oil brand has launched the campaign ‘Ab Har Day New Hair Day’, featuring brand ambassador and actor Parineeti Chopra?

57. Which brand released a ‘Paani' anthem as part of its Mission Paani on World Toilet Day?

58. Which personal and home hygiene brand has unveiled new TVCs for Health Soap and Air and Surface Disinfectant Spray?

59. The Tata Group’s healthcare venture Tata Medical and Diagnostics is teaming up with which healthcare group to offer testing for Covid-19 across India?

60. Who has been appointed executive chairman of OneWeb, a Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite communications company that has now emerged from bankruptcy?

61. Which video streaming service will offer free access to non-subscribers in India on December 5 and 6 in another attempt to ramp up its user base?

62. Which group has exited its fledgling cruise business and sold the cruise line brand Jalesh Cruises to Waterways Leisure for an undisclosed sum?

63. Which company will sell 85.53% stake in its subsidiary Way2Wealth Securities to Shriram Credit Company at an enterprise valuation of Rs 65.07 crore?

64. Hamdard Laboratories India last week forayed into which food product business and will invest up to Rs 15 crore on branding and marketing?

65. Which MNC bank has rolled out a festive campaign with the thought ‘We Deserve to Celebrate’?

66. Which cooking oil brand has rolled out a campaign to champion the cause of women’s heart health and further its message of 'Rakhe Heart Ka Khayal'?

67. Which hair care brand has launched a film 'Good Men' on account of International Men’s Day?

68. Which automobile company has rolled out a film titled '#WeLoveYou4Million'?

69. Which camphor manufacturer has launched a freshener in a cone format under the brand CamPure and has released a new campaign called ‘Calm Kare’?

70. Which advertising agency has announced the appointment of Devika Bulchandani as the Chief Executive Officer of North America and global chairwoman of advertising?

Please mail your answers before 12 noon next Sunday to rajeevkondapalli@gmail.com with Biz Quizzard 869 as the subject. Answers will be mailed to those who attempt the current edition within the given time.

Happy learning!

rajeev kondapalli

Biz Quizzard 868

 Presenting the current affairs quiz for the period November 09 - 14. Hope you enjoy it.

1. Retail holding in NSE-listed companies crossed which milestone value mark as on September 30, 2020, as per primeinfobase(dot)com data?

2. Companies will soon have to conduct free annual health checkups for all employees above which age, according to the new labour rules being prepared by the Union government?

3. Which energy company is planning to engage with 2530 startups every year from 2022, through its E4 Programme, to help them scale their business?

4. Indian Oil Corp (IOC) director pipelines Akshay Kumar Singh will be the new managing director and chief executive of which company?

5. Which online grocer has allegedly suffered a massive data breach in which details of over 20 million users have been leaked?

6. Which premium gaming destinations and casinos brand has launched a social media campaign named ‘Best Assured’, featuring actor Rajeev Khandelwal?

7. Streaming service Netflix has announced its foray into real-time, scheduled programming with its first linear content TV channel in which country?

8. Which footwear brand has launched the ‘Best Foot Forward’ campaign to showcase its Indo-fusion footwear collection?

9. Which beauty destination has launched a festive campaign titled ‘#TohKyaHua’?

10. India has surpassed the US to become which messaging app’s top market for new users?

11. Which company has sold a penthouse at London’s prestigious No. 1 Grosvenor Square for 140 million pounds (around Rs 1,400 crore), making it the world’s most expensive real estate sale in 2020?

12. Actor Kajal Aggarwal has picked up 15% stake in which online gaming platform for an undisclosed amount?

13. A consortium of private equity funds Investcorp, Norwest Venture Partners and Gaja Capital have invested about Rs 800 crore to acquire about 31% stake in which ecommerce-focused logistics company?

14. Which company has sold its Karnataka wind farms to UK government-backed Ayana Renewables for Rs 1,600 crore?

15. Which streaming platform has won the exclusive rights to New Zealand Cricket (NZC) matches, which had been with Star and Disney India since the 2017 rights cycle?

16. Which actor has ventured into content creation and has launched his newest platform South Bay - a channel featuring exciting and quirky content for the audiences?

17. Which auto tech company has roped in actor Akshay Kumar as brand ambassador and has launched its new television commercial?

18. Which cryptocurrency investment platform has launched the campaign ‘Smart Investing’, aired during the IPL final?

19. Which company has launched the second-leg of its marketing campaign, ‘Safer For Each Other 2.0,’ to reassure riders of various safety measures it is undertaking for rider and driver safety?

20. Which company has agreed to acquire Postbank Systems AG, the technology services unit of Deutsche Bank, for one euro?

21. Which financial services company has launched an Dream11 IPL 2020-focused integrated digital campaign to celebrate its 25 years?

22. Which smartphone brand has launched the ‘#SmileWalaDiya’ campaign?

23. Which business group has ventured into the financial services business through its newly-formed housing finance subsidiary and will commence operations in Mumbai, Bengaluru, NCR and Pune?

24. Fast food giant McDonald’s last week announced it was launching a new plant-based burger to cater to the growing number of people who do not eat meat. What has it been named?

25. Which company last week unveiled its 19.8-MW waste-to-energy project in Hyderabad?

26. Which company has announced its exit from Australian aerospace subsidiary Gippsland Aerospace as part of its evaluation process to reduce exposure to loss-making global subsidiaries?

27. French smart mobility giant Alstom last week achieved which metro rail car production milestone from its Sri City factory in Andhra Pradesh?

28. Which MNC will acquire Workfront, a leading work management platform for marketers, for $1.5 billion?

29. Which company will start providing telecom services, both wireless and fixed line, in Mumbai and Delhi from January 1 on a pilot basis for five to six months?

30. With a donation of Rs 7,904 crore, which business personality and family have topped the EdelGive Hurun India Philanthropy List 2020?

31. Which MNC last week said it would not take new projects for supply to coal-fired power stations in India?

32. Which union territory has invited bids to privatise its power distribution business, becoming the first UT to do so under the Centre´s Atmanirbhar Bharat plan announced in May?

33. Which skincare and grooming brand has announced Indian YouTuber and social media influencer, Sejal Kumar as its brand ambassador?

34. Which pet care brand has launched the campaign ‘#FeedtheStrays’, promoting the health and care of stray dogs?

35. Which dairy brand has rolled out a new campaign ‘#KhushbooApnepanKi’ for its ghee?

36. Which online marketplace for financial products has released its latest brand film, ‘My Father’s Dream’ in line with its brand philosophy ‘Paison Se Badhkar’?

37. Which Hindi movies channel has launched the campaign ‘Dekh Ke Chalo’ to increase public awareness on the importance of social distancing and wearing a mask?

38. Which brand has introduced a laundry product called PODs, sold in single-use tablets?

39. Global index services provider MSCI has included how many Indian stocks to its standard index as part of its semiannual review?

40. The market value of all Nifty companies topped which milestone mark for the first time on November 11 as stocks closed at an all-time high?

41. The chairman of which business group last week stepped down from leadership roles at three group companies to “pursue philanthropy and other interests”?

42. Which company has acquired the ATM business of Logicash Solutions (Logicash) in India?

43. The government has made it mandatory for companies with annual turnover of which value or more to go for GST einvoicing from January?

44. Which model from Maruti Suzuki India got zero star for adult occupant protection in a safety test conducted by Global New Car Assessment Programme (Global NCAP)?

45. Which cement brand has launched a digital campaign titled ‘Apni Personal Space’, which focuses on consumers’ lives during the pandemic induced lockdown?

46. Which US-based social media startup that helps professionals to connect within their companies and industries is launching in India to tap professionals from consulting and IT sector?

47. Which automobile company rolled out the ‘Silent Diwali Film’, encouraging viewers to celebrate a silent, safe and pollution-free Diwali with their loved ones?

48. Which technology-powered platform enabling elders to age with grace and relevance has launched its ‘#EldersFirstDiwali’ campaign?

49. Which fitness application has launched its festive campaign’ #SSGKeSaathChal’?

50. The number of FASTag users in the country has reached which milestone mark?

51. Which condensed milk brand has launched a campaign with the message “Apney haathon kee mithaas se banaye Diwali khaas”?

52. Which textiles brand has launched the campaign ‘#DonoTarafKhushiyan’?

53. Which cement brand has launched the campaign ‘#IssDiwaliApneGhar’?

54. Which cement brand has paid a tribute to doctors through its campaign ‘#YehPuccaHai’?

55. Which two automobile companies last week unveiled the logo of Stellantis - the company resulting from their planned merger?

56. Which math learning edtech platform has roped in actress Vidya Balan as its brand ambassador?

57. Which flowers and gifts retailer has launched its new digital campaign ‘Deepawali Apni Si’, with the narration by actor Naseeruddin Shah?

58. Which pest control brand has launched the campaign ‘Super HIT Diwali’?

59. Which jewellery brand has launched the campaign ‘Faida Fix Hai’?

60. Which company’s mortgage loan portfolio has surpassed Rs 2 trillion, making it the first private sector bank in the country to achieve the milestone?

61. Which Australia-based global major in Conversational AI launched its India operations on Diwali day through a joint venture partnership with Mogaé?

62. Which IT MNC has launched the campaign ‘YeDiwaliDilWali’ with the film ‘Umeed Ke Paon’?

63. Which company is divesting its fertiliser business by way of a slump sale to Indorama Corporation for a cash consideration of Rs 2,649 crore?

64. Which Coimbatore-based SaaS (Software as a Service) company recently acquired Cerebrata, a privately-held SaaS company based out of Udaipur in Rajasthan in a 100 per cent cash deal?

65. Which kids’ channel launched the campaign ‘#UnmutetheKids’ for Children’s Day?

66. Which fashion retailer is elevating Shailesh Chaturvedi to the position of chief executive?

67. Which immunity booster brand recently celebrated Karwa Chauth with the ITBP (Indo-Tibetan Border Police) jawans and their families through its ‘Majboot Rishto ki Buniyaad’ campaign?

68. Which tractor brand has launched a new campaign with the theme ‘Josh’?

69. Which brand has launched a campaign with the positioning ‘Always On! It's the LED for you’?

70. Which company will acquire certain assets and employees of Pramerica Systems Ireland from insurance firm Prudential Financial Inc (PFI)?

71. Craft beer entrepreneur Ishan Grover and former ad executive Jaideep Mahajan have teamed up to launch a range of hand sanitizers under which brand?

72. Which health and nutrition essentials brand has launched the campaign ‘#SehatKaJashn’ for Diwali?

73. Which consulting firm has acquired Spotmentor Technologies, an artificial intelligence (AI)-backed human resource technology startup founded by four IIT-Kharagpur alumni?

74. Which Indian company has invested $50 million in Breakthrough Energy Ventures, a climate change company owned by Microsoft cofounder Bill Gates?

75. Strengthening its broadcast business, IN10 Media has forayed into kids’ space and has launched a new kids channel on the eve of Children’s Day. What has it branded as?

76. Which paints company has launched a new digital film as part of its brand campaign ‘Aaj Careful toh Kal Colourful’?

77. Which online travel platform has launched its latest campaign ‘#TravelManao’ urging people to do something different and celebrate the festivities by embarking on a journey?

78. Which life insurance company has launched the campaign ‘#KhushiyonKaReturnGift’?

79. Which mutual fund has launched the campaign ‘Iss Diwali Kuch Alag Karte Hain’, nudging audiences to do something new this Diwali?

80. Ending this edition with this beautiful ad film. Which company has launched the film ‘Pooja Didi’ as part of its ongoing campaign?

Please mail your answers before 12 noon next Sunday to rajeevkondapalli@gmail.com with Biz Quizzard 868 as the subject. Answers will be mailed to those who attempt the current edition within the given time.

Happy learning!

rajeev kondapalli

Biz Quizzard 867

 Presenting the current affairs quiz for the period November 02 -07. Hope you enjoy it.

1. Unified Payments Interface (UPI) has crossed which milestone transactions mark in October, the first time it has done so?

2. The BCCI has announced which brand as the title sponsor of the Women’s T20 Challenge?

3. Which retailer has become India's largest clothing brand by revenues in FY20, according to its latest filing sourced from Altinfo, a data insights firm?

4. Which product R&D and engineering major has acquired the India offshore delivery centre of Sweden-headquartered Semcon?

5. Which confectionery brand has launched the campaign ‘#KeepItFresh’?

6. Which market research firm will sell its consumer goods data unit for $2.7 billion to private equity firm Advent International?

7. Which MNC has hired Aditya Puri, former CEO of HDFC Bank, as a senior advisor in Asia?

8. Which company plans to foray into electric scooter manufacturing, switching gears from being a taxi aggregator to a vehicle manufacturer?

9. Which grooming solutions brand has launched ‘Defender for Her Women’s Razor’?

10. Which pharma company’s Rs 6,000 crore initial public offer (IPO) is set to hit the market on November 9, 2020?

11. Which business group is foraying into gifting solution space through a new venture, named The Gift Studio?

12. Which home-bred gear vendor will acquire Italy’s Optotec S.p.A., a company specializing in optical interconnect products, for 29 million euros?

13. Flipkart-owned fintech platform PhonePe last week said it has crossed which registered user milestone?

14. Which pharma company has launched the third chapter of its ‘#BerokZindagi’ campaign, featuring actor Ayushmann Khurrana?

15. Which water heating solutions brand has launched a new digital campaign, ‘Don’t Be A Heater Hitesh’?

16. Which pet care brand has launched the campaign ‘Bring Home Curiosity’, promoting cat adoption?

17. Which Mexican-inspired restaurant brand has launched a campaign for its new ‘Best of Bell’ menu offering consumers signature items at affordable prices?

18. Which MNC has elevated its former India consumer banking chief Anand Selvakesari as CEO global consumer banking?

19. Which company has acquired Columbia Asia Hospitals for Rs 2,100 crore in an all-cash deal?

20. Which company is launching a new brand, Nature Protect, under which it will sell more than a half-dozen products in the hygiene segment as part of its strategy to launch plant-based?

21. India’s apex direct taxes body has granted income tax exemption for four years to which sovereign wealth fund, the first such sovereign wealth fund to be given such a benefit?

22. Which company last week said it has strengthened its gaming strategy through the acquisition of Intellectual Property from Mech Mocha for an undisclosed amount?

23. Which company has partnered with Denmark's Tuco Marine Group to build advanced patrol boats in India?

24. Dilip Rath has been unanimously elected to the board of global dairy body International Dairy Federation (IDF). He is the chairman of which entity?

25. Which skincare and wellness brand has roped in actor Bhumi Pednekar as brand ambassador for its range of skincare products?

26. Which networking platform has launched its new campaign with the positioning ‘#InItTogether’?

27. Which bank has launched a new campaign, ‘Kona Kona Cricket’?

28. Which packaged sugar brand has launched a campaign with the promise of ‘5S guarantee’?

29. China last week halted which MNC’s IPO?

30. Titan Company last week announced the launch of its first international Tanishq store. Which location?

31. Which pharma company has launched the campaign ‘#SpreadingKindness’?

32. OnePlus last week unveiled its largest global experience store, in India. Which city?

33. Which PSU and Amazon(dot)in last week entered into a partnership to provide customers the option to book and pay for their gas cylinder refill?

34. Which company that establishes and operates global capability centres (GCCs) for large enterprises has announced the acquisition of AI-driven tech company FastNext in an all-stock deal?

35. Which company last week said it has launched credit cards in partnership with Paytm?

36. Which plywoods and veneers company has joined hands with CNBC TV18 and claimed to have developed India’s first virus-free news studio?

37. Which biscuit brand is now expanding its footprint in the cakes category with the launch of a new sub-brand ‘Caker’?

38. Which company, known for water purifiers, has ventured into the sleep and wellness segment with premium memory foam mattresses – Vital, Ortho-X, Regal and Naturale?

39. Which retailer has launched the campaign ‘#StopTheBias’ to break stereotypical beauty standards?

40. Which MNC has launched the ‘Iss Diwali Aap #KiseKhushKarenge?’ campaign, claimed to be India’s first hyper-personalized and ‘most generous ad’, promoting local retailers?

41. Which lifestyle gadgets brand has launched a digital ad film 'Unstoppable Every Day' for its new set of air buds?

42. Which brand has launched a new ad film 'Bhoolna Naamumkin' for its Cold Cream?

43. Which integrated travel services company and its group company have launched ‘Freedom Month’ to encourage travel?

44. Which dish washing brand has launched the campaign ‘What A Player’, featuring former cricketer Virender Sehwag?

45. Which snack brand has launched a campaign featuring actors Jitendra Kumar (Jeetu Bhaiya) and Manurishi Chadhha?

46. Which state last week inked a pact with Tata Technologies to upgrade 150 of the government-run industrial training institutes (ITIs) with the latest technological equipment and tools?

47. Which company has made a strategic investment in fashion brand Universal Sportsbiz (USPL) as part of USPL’s Series-F round?

48. Which eyewear brand has launched a new campaign titled ‘You’re On’, celebrating living life authentically in moments of uninhibited joy?

49. Which discount broking brand has launched a new digital video film, on the premise of ‘Paise Ped Pe Nahi Ugte’?

50. After facing regulatory hurdles and courtroom battles for months, which company has received approval in India to go live with a payment feature on its messaging platform using UPI?

51. FMCG brand Priyagold last week announced the appointment of which actress as its brand ambassador and celebrity endorser across its varied range of products?

52. Which high-end French baker and sweet maker is making its India debut and plans to open its first outlet in New Delhi next year?

53. Which beauty accessory and personal care appliances brand has announced actress Ananya Panday as the brand ambassador to endorse its range of products?

54. Which brand has launched the campaign ‘Deewarein Sajengi Tabhi toh Tyohaar Ki Rangat Badhegi’ in support of painter community this Diwali?

55. Which Italian company last week announced multiple green energy partnerships with the Adani group, Indian Oil Corporation and Greenko, paving the way for its entry into the Indian market?

56. Which company is restructuring its operations by transferring the B2B (business-to-business) operations to a 100% subsidiary Rohini Industrial Electricals on a slump sale basis?

57. Which company last week unveiled its all-new cruiser bike Meteor 350 with prices starting at Rs 1.75 lakh (ex-showroom Chennai)?

58. Which company has announced that its newly launched HERO9 Black camera has gone on sale in India from November 6?

59. Which PETA certified cruelty-free vegan beauty brand has launched the campaign 'Talk Clean to Me’?

60. Amazon Web Services (AWS), a cloud services major, will invest Rs 20,761 crore to set up an AWS Region with three Availability Zones (AZs) in which city?

61. Which real estate developer has tied up with celebrity and fashion photographer Dabboo Ratnani for its new ‘Icon In The Sky’ campaign?

62. Which footwear and accessories brand has launched the campaign ‘Awesome Never Stops’ to introduce its new festive collection?

63. Which social media app, has announced a unique partnership with actor Kareena Kapoor Khan to engage with her thriving community in order to support small businesses in the country?

64. Which retailer has launched the campaign ‘Umeed Ka Jashn’?

65. Which online grocery retailer has launched the "Ek Diye Se Do Ghar Roshan" initiative to support local artisans and potters?

Please mail your answers before 12 noon next Sunday to rajeevkondapalli@gmail.com with Biz Quizzard 867 as the subject. Answers will be mailed to those who attempt the current edition within the given time.

Happy learning!

rajeev kondapalli

Biz Quizzard 866

 Presenting the current affairs quiz for the period October 26 - 31. Hope you enjoy it.

1. Tata Motors’ passenger vehicle vertical has recently crossed which cumulative production milestone?

2. Which Pune-based IT services firm has appointed Sandeep Kalra as the chief executive?

3. Kamal Gianchandani has been appointed president of which industry body?

4. Which biscuit brand has launched a campaign celebrating its association with Royal Challengers Bangalore?

5. Which jewellery brand has launched its festive campaign ‘The Art of 24x7 fashion’, featuring actress Shraddha Kapoor?

6. Which financial services company has launched a new social media campaign ‘#MoneyInAction’?

7. Which telecom brand has launched its campaign featuring Deepika Padukone and Ranveer Singh?

8. Which digital payments platform has launched a Dussehra-themed fraud awareness campaign 'Faces of Fraud'?

9. Which retail brand has launched a festive campaign titled ‘Dil Se Diwali’, inspired by the joyful feelings that the festival of light ushers in?

10. Lee Kun-hee passed away on October 25. He was the chairman of which MNC?

11. Which Indian generic drug firm has reached a definitive agreement to sell its US wholly-owned stepdown subsidiary Natrol to New Mountain Capital and its affiliate Jarrow Formulas?

12. Bharti Airtel has rolled out a cloud-based platform for enterprises and small & medium enterprises in the country. What has it been branded as?

13. Which MNC has agreed to acquire US biotech company Asklepios BioPharmaceutical Inc for as much as $4 billion, bolstering its pharma division with experimental gene therapies before patents expire on some key drugs?

14. Which country’s head last week set a 2050 deadline for it to become carbon neutral, significantly firming up the country’s climate change commitments?

15. Maruti Suzuki India’s premium hatchback Baleno has crossed which cumulative sales milestone since its launch in 2015?

16. Which IT firm has launched ‘Get the future you want’, a new brand platform for its clients and communities?

17. Which online higher education company has launched the campaign ‘#KaamKiDegree’ to promote its MBA offerings for working professionals?

18. Which jewellery brand has launched a campaign ‘Where Beauty Rises’ for its festive collection ‘Utkala’, an ode to Odisha's art and architectural history?

19. Which online gaming platform has signed on cricketer Suresh Raina as brand ambassador?

20. Which MNC has set terms for a dual listing aimed at raising up to $34.4 billion from the world’s largest stock market debut, with investors scrambling for a piece of the fast-growing company?

21. Which company has released a new festive film 'Iss Baar Ghar Par Tyohaar', featuring brand ambassador, Sachin Tendulkar?

22. Which insurance company has recently announced the launch of ‘#HealthInsideOut’ campaign to create awareness on mental health?

23. Which mutual fund has launched a new TVC, ‘Market conditions Dekh Kar Badhao bhi, Bachao bhi’?

24. Which automobile company has launched ‘India Rebounds’, featuring its anthem, re-composed and re-imagined by AR Rahman?

25. Who was voted as India’s most trusted celebrity in the TIARA Research Report on Celebrities as Human Brands, released by the Indian Institute of Human Brands (IIHB)?

26. Which omnichannel lifestyle retailer last week said actress Alia Bhatt has made a personal investment in it through a secondary transaction for an undisclosed amount?

27. Which MNC has agreed to buy Xilinx for $35 billion in stock, taking the chipmaker into more diverse and profitable markets and adding to its data center offerings?

28. Which state last week announced the floor price for 16 varieties of vegetables, becoming the first in the country to fix a floor price for vegetables?

29. Which IT firm has announced the acquisition of Australia-based Momenton and New Zealand-based Tenzing Ltd for a combined $39.7 million?

30. American bike maker Harley-Davidson has decided to partner which company to run its business in India?

31. Which business group is investing Rs 5,000 crore to set up a phone component manufacturing plant at the industrial complex in Hosur, Tamil Nadu?

32. Which company, in association with Microsoft Research India, has developed a smartphone-based technology for testing applicants seeking drivers license?

33. Which iconic toy company has announced its foray into the India market with its first campaign in India titled “The Little Red Brick”?

34. Which jewellery and fine-crafts brand from Baripada, Odisha, has launched the ‘Back to Being Beautiful’ campaign and will run it for 75 days?

35. Which hair colour brand has launched its new campaign featuring Bengali actress and MP Nusrat Jahan to promote its new fashion range?

36. Bharti Airtel’s board last week cleared the sale of its joint venture in which African country to the government there?

37. Which personal care brand has launched a new digital campaign, ‘Ageless Expression’, featuring actress Kalki Koechlin, to announce the launch of its new Natural Age Control Range?

38. Which home appliances brand has rolled out a new TVC and digital campaign, ‘Khushiyon Ka Homemaker’?

39. Which matrimony portal has launched a new campaign ‘#PerfectSathi’, featuring actors Debina Bonnerjee and Gurmeet Choudhary?

40. Which airport has become the first in the country to unveil end-to-end paperless e-boarding for international flights?

41. Which meat products and seafood company has rolled out a new ‘Ready To Game’ campaign, featuring actor Aparshakti Khurana and comedian Naveen Richard?

42. Which IT firm will acquire Encore Theme Technologies, a software-as-a-service (SaaS) and cloud solutions provider for the financial services sector, for up to Rs 95 crore?

43. Which MNC has forayed into automotive lubricants segment in India and has collaborated with Assurance International, a part of Satya Group?

44. Which IT firm has announced that Rajesh Nambiar has been appointed as the chairman and managing director of India and a member of executive committee effective November 9, 2020?

45. Which IT firm is doubling down on its Cloud services business, streamlining the practice into five strategic units to generate more revenue?

46. Which industry body last week launched meetha(dot)org, a portal that will be a source for right information and knowledge to be shared with consumers about sugar?

47. Which company last week operated its first seaplane between Sabarmati riverfront in Ahmedabad and Statue of Unity in Kevadia, Gujarat?

48. Which MNC has unveiled two new smartphones – Wing and Velvet – in India?

49. Which ticketing and discovery platform for live events and livestreams has been launched across India, offering exclusive livestreams from local and international artists?

50. Which Indian company last week said that it had turned carbon neutral, 30 years ahead of the timeline (2050) set by the Paris Agreement?

51. Which brand from the J.G. Hosiery group has launched the campaign ‘#MenBeFlexi’?

52. Which brand has come up with a new video campaign, #ProtectChildhood, to curb a rise in child pornography?

53. Which brand has launched a campaign with the message ‘Can a world that thinks large, ever be small?’?

54. Which automobile brand has launched a new campaign with the theme 'Meet the other side of you'?

55. Which brand from Hamdard Laboratories (Medicine Division) has launched a new commercial with the positioning 'Sardi Ka The End'?

56. Which cookies brand has launched a new campaign to encourage individuals to pat themselves on the back and give some ‘#CookieCredit’?

57. Which fitness startup has released the ‘We Are Cult’ anthem, aiming to celebrate the very spirit of being better every day, as its centers open across cities?

58. Which health and wellness supplements brand has launched the campaign ‘#StopTheSearch’?

59. Which cryptocurrency investment platform has launched a digital campaign titled ‘#HarNukkadPeKuber’, to raise awareness around cryptocurrency investments in India?

60. Which MNC last week announced its electric bicycle ‘Serial 1’?

61. Which broadcaster has launched a new campaign film ‘Aaj Koi Nahi Soyega’ ahead of the UEFA Champions League?

62. Which company has signed a definitive agreement with Huntsman Group (USA) for acquiring a 100% stake in one of its subsidiaries in India - Huntsman Advanced Materials Solutions Pvt Ltd (HAMSPL) for Rs 2,100 crore?

63. Which global investment firm has launched Virescent Infrastructure, a new platform to acquire renewable energy assets in India?

64. Former Indian cricketer Yuvraj Singh has invested an undisclosed sum in which customised nutrition company?

65. Which group has entered into a collaboration with India Medtronic Private Limited for integrating the latter’s USFDA approved artificial intelligence (AI) platform for advanced stroke management at its hospitals?

66. Which company has unveiled electric 3-wheeler cargo model, TreoZor, in 3 variants – Pickup, Delivery Van and Flatbed?

67. Which FMEG company has roped in actor Rajkumar Rao as the new face of the brand?

68. Which chocolate brand is being launched with a campaign ‘#MakeTheMomentPerfect’?

69. Which power company has launched a series of nine short videos called ‘#StriPower' for Navratri?

70. Which Australian company has entered into a binding agreement to acquire controlling interest in Elara Technologies, which owns and runs Housing(dot)com, PropTiger(dot)com and Makaan(dot)com?

71. Which chip supplier has agreed to buy peer Inphi Corp in a $10 billion cash-and-stock deal aimed at broadening Marvell's footprint in data centers and 5G network infrastructure?

72. Which bank has announced the launch of a new campaign, ‘Har Indian ka comeback’, to celebrate the indomitable spirit of every Indian?

73. Which homeware brand has launched its global campaign ‘Always with You’ in India?

74. Which automobile brand has unveiled its launch campaign ‘The Selfless Car’?

75. Which company has released a new digital campaign ‘make WFH work’ for its furniture, appliances and home security solutions?

76. Which company has entered into a definitive agreement with Lubrizol Advanced Materials to set up India’s ‘largest’ chlorinated polyvinyl chloride (CPVC) resin plant?

77. Which state has banned online gaming, online betting and gambling, and has urged the Centre to ban 132 apps?

78. Which MNC will buy Dunkin' Brands Group Inc for $8.76 billion?

79. Which technology brand has released a new film titled ‘Stop at Nothing’, featuring actor Kalki Koechlin?

80. Which Indian company has ranked among the Top 5 Global Biotech Employers for 2020 on the US-based Science magazine’s annual ‘Science Careers Top 20 Employers’ list?

81. Which plant-based nutrition brand has roped in actress Samantha Prabhu Akkineni to represent the brand in South India?

82. Which fashion etailer has launched a festive campaign featuring celebrity couple Chaitanya and Samantha Akkineni?

83. Which electric scooters company has launched its latest campaign, ‘Unlock Life’?

84. Which brand has launched the campaign “Don’t Face Wash, Milk Wash!”, featuring brand ambassador and actress Taapsee Pannu?

85. Harpreet A De Singh will be the new CEO of which airline, becoming the first woman to head a desi airline?

Please mail your answers before 12 noon next Sunday to rajeevkondapalli@gmail.com with Biz Quizzard 866 as the subject. Answers will be mailed to those who attempt the current edition within the given time.

Happy learning!

rajeev kondapalli