Biz Quizzard 591

Presenting the current affairs quiz for the week July 20 - 25. Hope you enjoy it.

1. Which retailer is exploring the possibility of selling its `George' brand of clothing and home products on third-party ecommerce sites in India?

2. Which company has entered into the washing machine category with the claim of introducing India’s first ‘unisex washing machines’?

3. According to reports last week, which MNC has agreed to buy United Technologies Corp's Sikorsky Aircraft for over $8 billion?

4. Which premium luggage brand has launched a new range of luggage, Morph, designed exclusively for globetrotters?

5. Which hospital chain has launched its first elaborate advertising campaign called 'Hands of Hope'?

6. Advertising agency Lowe Lintas + Partners has been renamed following the global merger of Inter Public Group (IPG) agencies Mullen and Lowe & Partners. What is the new name?

7. Fairfax India Holdings, a fund set up by Canadian investor Prem Watsa to target Indian assets, will buy a 74% stake in which commodities storage and services firm?

8. Which Russian tech billionaire is funding an ambitious $100 million science project to discover whether intelligent life exists outside planet earth?

9. Which business group has elevated Pankaj Munjal as its Chairman and Managing Director (CMD)?

10. Which mobile handset manufacturer from India has secured trademark protection for 111 countries, paving the way for entering new markets?

11. Which company has said it would buy US-based Vivint Solar Inc in a deal valued at about $2.2 billion, including debt, to expand in the residential and commercial solar power business?

12. Which company has created a new sub-brand, Sainik Plywood, and has launched a campaign with the positioning ‘Hamesha Tayyaar’ (Always ready)?

13. Which jobs portal has launched a campaign, 'Love What You Do', encouraging people to follow their passions, when it comes to work?

14. Raymond Group’s FMCG company, JK Helene Curtis (JKHC), has signed up which celebrity as brand ambassador for its Park Avenue brand of deodorants?

15. Which celebrity has replaced Kangana Ranaut as the new face of online marketplace Askmebazaar[dot]com?

16. Which fashion portal has appointed McKinsey's Ananth Narayanan as its new chief executive officer?

17. Hisao Tanaka has stepped down as the chief executive of which MNC, taking responsibility for a $1.2-billion accounting scandal?

18. Which airline has launched the digital campaign #LetsGoDutch to target the Indian traveller?

19. The book '30 Women in Power' was launched last week. Which well known business personality is the author / editor?

20. What distinction has Maruti Suzuki achieved in terms of market value?

21. Which company has launched a television commercial 'The science of light' to promote its LED bulb range?

22. Which company has got approval from I&B ministry to acquire TV Today Network's radio station `Oye' in four cities?

23. Which engineering services company has announced that it will be acquiring Singapore-based Global Services Engineering Asia from Pratt & Whitney for an undisclosed consideration?

24. Which on-demand delivery service has acquired a rival startup, called Godeliver?

25. Proctor and Gamble (P&G) has signed on which celebrity as its new brand ambassador for Pantene, replacing Shilpa Shetty who was the face of the shampoo so far?

26. Who are the world’s wealthiest couple with a combined net worth of $ 85.7 billion, according to a report by Wealth- X, the global wealth intelligence and prospecting company?

27. The CEO of which Indian automobile company has decided to relocate to the UK for a year in order to strengthen its motorcycle business in international markets?

28. Viacom18, the joint venture between Viacom and Network18, has obtained licence for a new Hindi channel. What has it been branded as?

29. Which business personality’s online education venture targeting working professionals, UpGrad, is launching with a course in entrepreneurship?

30. Which company will pay $880 million (around Rs 5,606 crore) to buy New Jersey-based Gavis Pharmaceuticals?

31. Veer Vijay Singh, a former chief operating officer (COO) of Taj Group's Vivanta branded properties, has founded a hotel management company. What has it been branded as?

32. Which hospitality company has formed a joint venture with US-based HMSHost to develop and operate outlets at domestic and international airports across India and Asian countries?

33. Which MNC will deliver Xiaomi's new flagship handset, the Mi Note, to buyers in Singapore and Kuala Lumpur in a tie-up that showcases its ambitious expansion into the same-day delivery business?

34. Japanese media group Nikkei has agreed to buy which iconic business daily from Britain's Pearson in a $1.3 billion deal?

35. Which global consultancy major has appointed Karan Singh as its India MD?

36. Which airport has announced plans to open the world's first luxury terminal exclusively for animals?

37. Which cooking oil brand launched an out-of-home (OOH) campaign called 'Bhajan se Bhojan Tak’ at the Jagannath Rath Yatra in Puri?

38. Which company last week announced that it has entered into an agreement to acquire Germany's Temmler Pharma's specialty product portfolio subject to certain closing conditions?

39. This is good. Which MNC, one of the world's largest management consulting, technology services and outsourcing companies, is scrapping annual performance reviews and rankings?

40. Suresh Narayanan is the new India CEO for which MNC?

41. Which MNC last week became the most valuable listed retailer in the world after its shares surged on the back of better-than-expected quarterly results?

42. Dabur is now extending its popular digestive brand Hajmola into the ready-to-drink beverage category. What has it been branded as?

43. Which company will buy Cigna Corp in a deal valued at $54.2 billion, creating the largest US health insurer by membership?

44. Which healthcare company has reappointed its former Chief Executive Officer, Bhavdeep Singh, in the same position?

45. Which local business listing website is planning to launch a taxi service to compete with the likes of Uber and Ola?

46. Which new bank will commence operations in India on October 1?

47. Insurance comparison website PolicyBazaar has roped in which TV personality as its brand ambassador?

48. Which company has entered into the segment of bathroom faucets under the Kerovit brand name?

49. Which IT major has set up a team of 200-250 professionals, referred internally as “Unicorns”, as part of its efforts to ramp up revenues from digital services?

50. Cycle Pure Agarbathies has roped in which celebrity as brand ambassador?

Please mail your answers on or before next Sunday to rajeevkondapalli@gmail.com with Biz Quizzard 591 as the subject.

Happy learning!
rajeev kondapalli

Biz Quizzard 590

Presenting the current affairs quiz for the week July 13 - 18. Hope you enjoy it.

1. Which company has topped the Best Companies to Work for Study 2015, a collaboration between the Economic Times and the Great Place to Work Institute?

2. MY Kim is the new India head for which MNC?

3. Which private equity firm has appointed Alok Goel, former CEO of Freecharge, as managing director?

4. Which entity is picking up a 50% stake in Massive Restaurants, a two-year-old company founded by Zorawar, son of celebrity chef Jiggs Kalra?

5. This one surely is a blast from the past. Which well known FMCG brand has launched a new commercial featuring bikini-clad Brazilian model Anabelle dancing under a waterfall?

6. Which Indian business personality has been featured in `The Worldview 100' listing of the prestigious US-based Scientific American magazine?

7. Mr Satoru Iwata, 55, recently died after a long illness. He was the CEO of which MNC?

8. Which portal last week unveiled its new brand identity with a new logo and tagline ‘Aasaan Hai Badalna’?

9. Which company has divested its wholly owned subsidiary Packaging India to Amcor Flexibles in an all-cash transaction?

10. Children-focused e-commerce company Firstcry[dot]com has roped in which celebrity as its brand ambassador?

11. Which company has said it will buy certain assets of US-based Trygstad Technical Services in an all- cash deal?

12. Which pizza chain recently broke the GUINNESS WORLD RECORD for the most number of people tossing pizza dough at once, in London?

13. Which business group has ventured into the food business by acquiring MVJ Foods' Melam brand?

14. Sandeep Mathur, former Managing Director of Oracle India, is the new president of which next-generation financial services solutions start-up?

15. Which business group has roped in Kriti Sanon as the brand ambassador for their new Bath & Home Collection?

16. Which online marketplace is relaunching Shopo as a mobile app focused goods and services marketplace, two years after it acquired the startup for an undisclosed sum?

17. Which company is selling its iconic south Mumbai guest house `Alhambra', which was built by the sultan of Darbhanga, for an undisclosed amount?

18. Which company will acquire 100 per cent equity stake in Sarthak Entertainment Pvt. Ltd., which operates ‘Sarthak TV’, the number 1 GEC in Odia language?

19. Which Italian sports car manufacturer has made its re-entry into the Indian luxury car market?

20. The Russian government has chosen which shipyard for a naval frigate order that is likely to exceed $3 billion, making it the private sector's biggest ever warship-building project?

21. American kitchen equipment company Middleby is buying which renowned British cooker maker for $201 million?

22. Which business group has named its Headend-In-The-Sky (HITS) service NXT Digital?

23. Which company has signed a definitive agreement to acquire 100% equity interest in Bluefin Solutions Ltd. (Bluefin), a U.K.-based IT solutions provider specialising in SAP HANA solutions?

24. Michael Jones, a former chief executive of MySpace, is launching a venture capital fund in India to back early start-ups focussed on building mobile phone applications. What is it called?

25. Apollo Health and Lifestyle Ltd (AHLL) has unveiled its new line of hospitals. What has it been branded as?

26. Defending champions of the Star Sports Pro Kabaddi League, the Jaipur Pink Panthers, have roped in which brand as the principal sponsor (front jersey) for this season?

27. Rediffusion Y&R has launched a separate division to focus on social sector communication. What has it been branded as?

28. Which company is planning to launch solar LED-based lighting products, leveraging the technology developed by Bengaluru-based Promptec Renewable Energy Solutions?

29. Which telecom company last week announced 1GB free Data for all its female subscribers coming aboard?

30. Which airline has unveiled its first Arsenal FC branded plane?

Please mail your answers on or before next Sunday to rajeevkondapalli@gmail.com with Biz Quizzard 590 as the subject.

Happy learning!
rajeev kondapalli

Biz Quizard 589

Presenting the current affairs quiz for the week July 06 - 11. Hope you enjoy it.

1. Which bank has launched the first MUDRA (Micro Units Development and Refinance Agency) card under the Pradhan Mantri MUDRA Yojana (PMMY) scheme?

2. Which cosmetics company has launched the digital campaign #SwipeToSpice?

3. Which MNC’s ‘Find Your Fast’ campaign features Kobe Bryant, Wayne Rooney and Serena Williams, along with 10 other athletes who inspire runners to run their fastest mile?

4. Which beverage brand has launched its latest campaign ‘Bhaag Bittoo Bhaag’?

5. Hospitality company R&A Foods, which owns fast food chains Paninaro and Pronto, has acquired which quick service restaurant (QSR) chain in an all-stock deal?

6. Which city in India will get cab aggregator firm Uber’s biggest facility outside US?

7. Which textile manufacturer has entered the women’s branded apparel category with the launch of its brand ‘Channel Nine’?

8. Which company has appointed former Procter & Gamble executive Shantanu Khosla as the executive vice-president and managing director designate of its consumer business?

9. Which city in India has been ranked 12th on a list of top 20 technology-rich cities in the world, according to a survey conducted by Jones Lang LaSalle?

10. Which chocolate gifting brand has launched its first Eid campaign?

11. Which company has launched a campaign, featuring Anurag Kashyap, Harsha Bhogle and Amit Trivedi, to promote its LED TV?

12. Which brand of glucometers has rolled out a new campaign titled ‘Khud ki care’?

13. Which celebrity is building a 30 cottage resort on a 12-acre farm in Lonavala, branded `Kulli Yaar Di,' which means `a friend's house'?

14. Which regional carrier will commence operations from July 12 connecting Rajahmundry and Tirupati with Hyderabad?

15. Which company has acquired the India affiliate (Rittman Mead India) of Rittman Mead Consulting Ltd., a data and analytics consulting firm?

16. Ronnie Screwvala, B Saikumar and Ajay Chacko’s digital media venture, UDigital, has unveiled its digital media brand. Name it?

17. Which company has inked an equal joint venture with premium South Korean cosmetics and biotechnology firm Caregen Co to make and sell the latter's specialised skincare and haircare products in India?

18. Which business group has named PepsiCo executive Rahul Bhatnagar as its new managing director and chief financial officer?

19. Which British lender has ousted chief executive Antony Jenkins after three years in the post?

20. International Travel + Leisure magazine has voted which hospitality major as the best hotel brand in the world?

21. Star India last week launched a new English movies channel. What has it been branded as?

22. Which MNC has launched a new film ‘Karo Kuch Bhi’, crafted around its theme for youth in 2015 – ‘Learn. Share. Inspire’?

23. Which brand has become the first apparel brand in India to cross the $100-million sales mark?

24. Gourav Rakshit has been elevated as the CEO of which portal?

25. The digital unit of which company is acquiring Denmark-based global strategic design firm Designit for an undisclosed amount?

26. Which business group is set to sell pulses and edible oil in consumer packs in the next few months under a new brand, Nupro, to expand its agricultural business?

27. Which MNC has sealed a deal to buy Procter & Gamble Co's beauty business, which includes brands such as Clairol and Wella, in a $12.5 billion transaction?

28. Which doctor discovery platform has acquired software services firm Genii for an undisclosed sum, marking its entry into the enterprise segment of the healthcare industry?

29. Ashok Kumar Lahiri, a former Chief Economic Advisor to the Centre, will be the Chairman of which bank?

30. Which company has topped the Fortune Next 500 list of Indian companies?

31. Uber Delhi recently executed a rather cute BTL campaign titled 'UberPuppies'. With which portal did it tie up for the campaign?

32. Which company has acquired Italian rolling stock manufacturing firm Firema Transporti Spa?

33. Which 3 Indian firms were featured in the 2015 list of top 100 luxury brands by Deloitte?

34. Honda Motorcycle & Scooter India (HMSI) last week launched a new bike in the 110cc category. What has it been branded as?

35. Maruti Celerio has crossed which sales milestone in the domestic market?

Please mail your answers on or before next Sunday to rajeevkondapalli@gmail.com with Biz Quizzard 589 as the subject.

Happy learning!
rajeev kondapalli

Biz Quizzard 588

Presenting the current affairs quiz for the week June 29 - July 04. Hope you enjoy it.

1. Kellogg has roped in which sports personality as a brand ambassador in India?

2. Which online grocer has tied up with local food delivery start-up Chefkraft in Bengaluru to sell ready-to-cook meals, hawking pre-packed ingredients and freshly cut vegetables with recipes?

3. Which telecom gear maker has appointed Paolo Colella as the new head of its India operations?

4. Resul Pookutty, Oscar winning sound designer, and Mahesh Ramanathan have joined hands to launch a film production and services company. What has it been named?

5. The Indian Army and Indian Railways are among the world's top 10 employers, according to a report by the World Economic Forum. Which organization has topped the list?

6. Tata Sons, owner of the Tata brand and promoter of Tata companies, has capped the royalty payment from group entities using the Tata name at which level?

7. HDFC Bank has “exceeded” the single borrower limits prescribed by regulator RBI in case of its credit exposure to which company?

8. Which digital marketing agency has sponsored the inaugural session of the Mumbai Super league for table tennis?

9. Who have been ranked the highest-paid celebrity couple by Forbes?

10. ITC's packaged food business has crossed which sales milestone mark in the year ended March 2015?

11. Regional carrier Air Costa last week crossed which cumulative passenger mark?

12. Which company has announced the launch of medical refrigerators under a technology licensing agreement with the UK-based The Sure Chill Company?

13. Which company has fully acquired MaxWatt Turbines, an Indian specialist company for engineering, production and service of steam turbines for application in power generation and mechanical drives?

14. Which online food ordering platform has launched a TV campaign titled 'Call Nahi Install Karo'?

15. Which four Indians are among the world’s 100 highest-paid celebrities, according to the Forbes’ annual list?

16. Emirates Insolaire LLC has recently installed solar panels on a building façade in Lausanne, Switzerland. What first is it claiming for this?

17. Which MNC has announced the appointment of Rahul Agarwal as the Managing Director of its Indian operations?

18. Which motorcycle brand has launched its campaign with the positioning “Dil khol ke bike for Dil khol ke life.”?

19. Which company has bought a significant part of Bengaluru-based IT service provider Mphasis' domestic BPO business for Rs 17 crore in a slump sale?

20. Which company has become the world's third largest mobile carrier by subscribers?

21. Which company has launched a debit card themed on Scion of Ikshvaku book?

22. Which Mumbai-based company has acquired New York-based Time-Cap Laboratories for $28 million (about Rs. 170 crore)?

23. Times Network, which telecasts news and entertainment channels, has launched its premium English movie channel. What has it been branded as?

24. Which MNC will sell some map-generating technology to ride-hailing app company Uber?

25. Which company last week approached SEBI to float an IPO to raise Rs 450 cr, becoming the first player in the Indian e-commerce space to do so?

26. Which MNC is selling the rights to the Swedish brand Tretorn that makes iconic tennis shoes, to US firm Authentic Brands Group (ABG)?

27. Which American clothing brand plans to enter the fast growing Indian market through a licensee agreement with Arvind Lifestyle Brands that will open its first outlet in the country in March next year?

28. Ratan Tata has invested an undisclosed amount in his personal capacity in which online taxi-services company?

29. Taxi-hailing application Uber last week expanded its operations to how many more Indian cities, the most on a single day by the San Francisco-based company anywhere in the world?

30. Which 225-year-old iconic sweet shop in Old Delhi's Chandni Chowk last week downed its shutters for the last time?

31. DBS Bank's former India head Sanjiv Bhasin is joining which Mumbai-based financial services company as MD and chief executive?

32. TA Associates and Argan (Mauritius) have signed a definitive agreement to acquire approximately 95% stake in which broadband services provider in India?

33. Television broadcaster Viacom18 last week launched an English language general entertainment channel. What has it been branded as?

34. Which four brands from ITC crossed the Rs 1,000-crore revenue mark in the last fiscal?

35. Mr Surinder Kapur died in Munich last week at the age of 72. He was the founder chairman of which company?

36. Who is the wealthiest jeweller in India with a personal fortune of USD 1.3 billion, according to a Wealth-X report?

37. Which Indian pharmaceutical company has entered the Russian market by acquiring 100% stake in Biocom, a fast growing generic pharmaceuticals firm?

38. Which MNC bank has named Joris Dierckx as country head for India?

39. Which online payments company is buying international money-sending service Xoom in a deal valued at $890 million?

40. India’s GDP crossed which milestone mark in 2014, according to data released by the World Bank in Washington last week?

41. Which company last week unveiled its new visual identity and brand ­ `Good Health Can't Wait'?

42. Singapore-based Jungle Ventures has roped in which well known business personality from India as a Special Advisor?

43. Who has become the first and only artist to surpass more than 100 million Gold & Platinum song certifications, according to the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA)?

44. Which two-wheeler company has launched a new campaign titled ‘Kisi Se Kam Nahin’?

45. Which brand has launched its new digital film – ‘Confessions’, continuing to build upon last year’s communication idea ‘Boond Boond Mein Sacchai’?

46. Which online financial service has joined hands with Scarecrow Communications to launch the digital campaign #RightToPayTax featuring industry stalwarts?

47. Westland Ltd, the publisher of the 'Scion of Ikshvaku', has dragged Flipkart to Delhi High Court alleging copyright violations. The company is part of which business group?

48. Gillette India will stop selling which brand from December after parent company Procter & Gamble divested the brand globally?

49. Tata Trusts and which MNC have rolled out an internet literacy initiative called `Internet Saathi'?

50. Phil Knight has announced his plans to step down as the chairman of which company?

51. Airbus Helicopters and which company have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to form a joint venture to produce helicopters in India?

52. Maruti Suzuki last week unveiled the latest vehicle from its stable, a premium crossover. What has it been branded as?

53. Which sanitary-ware company has forayed into the water heater business with its partnership with French company Groupe Atlantic?

54. Which health insurer last week said it would buy smaller rival Humana Inc for about $37 billion in cash and stock, in the largest ever deal in the insurance industry?

55. With an average price of $1.75 for a 330ml bottle, which Indian city has the fifth cheapest beer among 75 world cities, according to the 2015 Beer Price Index?

Please mail your answers on or before next Sunday to rajeevkondapalli@gmail.com with Biz Quizzard 588 as the subject.

Happy learning!
rajeev kondapalli