Biz Quizzard 596

Presenting the current affairs quiz for the week August 24 - 29. Hope you enjoy it.

1. According to a report last week, who was the best-paid (including ESOPs) CEO of an Indian company in the last financial year?

2. Which company has entered into an exclusive tie-up to launch a slew of premium products of Italy-based global sanitaryware brand ISVEA in India?

3. Which portal has launched the campaign ‘Daastaan’ that seeks to bring together those separated at partition with things that they held dear?

4. Phaneesh Murthy-promoted PM Health & Life Care last week launched its health exchange platform. What has it been branded as?

5. Taxi hailing service Uber Technologies last week launched in how many more Indian cities?

6. This is the best Rakshbandhan ad I have seen. Which social entertainment and video company has launched a campaign urging people not to use cuss words which imply abuse to any sister?

7. Which global ride sharing service has launched its first TVC in India titled 'The Travelling Blobs'?

8. Which life insurance company has launched a television commercial with the positioning 'Sachchi Advice sirf apne hi dete hain'?

9. Flipkart last week introduced a social shopping application (chat feature). What has it been branded as?

10. Which company has given US University Carnegie Mellon $35 million to fund a new facility and student scholarships?

11. Which Chinese handset maker has named Mike Wang as the new India CEO?

12. Which app-based fashion retailer has acqui-hired Trialkart, a startup that gives a virtual dressing room experience to users?

13. Which company has entered into an agreement with Malaysia's Wasco Energy for setting up an Rs 200-crore greenfield concrete weight coating plant at Anjar in Gujarat?

14. Which San Francisco based fitness bands company has formally entered the Indian market by launching its complete range of fitness bands both online and offline?

15. Which company is entering the business to consumer segment by launching Autosure, which is a facility to test cars?

16. Which bathroom solutions brand has unveiled its new TVC with ‘Special memories need a special place’ as its central theme?

17. Which travel search firm has acquired Square Hoot Hikes, the company that owns the Gurgaon-based inter-city cabs aggregator Rutogo, for an undisclosed amount?

18. Which adtech firm last week sold its India business to Gurgaon-based SVG Media for an undisclosed amount?

19. Which oilfield services company has agreed to buy Cameron International Corp, which makes equipment used by oilfield services providers, in a deal valued at $14.8 billion?

20. Which company last week acquired wireless broadband firm Augere's India operations?

21. Which Chinese smartphone maker has entered into the Indian market with the launch of one of its premium handset ‘Speed7’?

22. Which company has acquired the brand licensing rights of Ridley Bikes Belgium for India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan and Myanmar for a period of 33 years?

23. Sanjay Kapoor has quit as the chairman of which mobile phone maker?

24. Which Chinese group has bought the organizer of Ironman Triathlon races for $650 million?

25. Which dating app has released its first TV campaign called 'Boy Browsing'?

26. Which US-headquartered global system integrator has signed a definitive agreement with Cyient (formerly Infotech Enterprises) to acquire its subsidiary, Infotech Enterprises IT Services (IEITS)?

27. Noel Biderman has stepped down as the CEO of which well known website?

28. Online grocery venture BigBasket has roped in which celebrity for its new campaign?

29. Obi Mobiles, cofounded by former Apple chief executive officer John Sculley, will relaunch in India by October. What will it be called now?

30. Facebook recently touched which new milestone in terms of the number of visitors to the site in a single day?

Please mail your answers on or before next Sunday to rajeevkondapalli@gmail.com with Biz Quizzard 596 as the subject.

Happy learning!
rajeev kondapalli

Biz Quizzard 595

Presenting the current affairs quiz for the week August 17 - 22. Hope you enjoy it.

1. On Independence Day, Hindustan Unilever made its tea restaurant debut in Bandra, Mumbai. What has it been branded as?

2. Real estate listing portal Housing[dot]com has acquired which Bengaluru-based customer relationship management software company, for $2 million or Rs 13 crore?

3. State Bank of India (SBI) last week launched its mobile wallet. What has it been branded as?

4. Not sure if I covered this before. Which Japanese company has filed an application with the department of industrial policy and promotion for entering into the single brand retail segment in the country?

5. Which television and film production company has announced the launch of ALT Digital Media, a specialised digital content business wing?

6. Which business group has agreed to acquire two cement units of Lafarge India that the French company has to sell to conclude its global merger with Holcim, for Rs 5.000 core?

7. Askme[dot]com has agreed to buy majority stake in which online furniture marketplace for $20 million?

8. Ratan Tata has invested in which online media entity that profiles start-ups and entrepreneurs?

9. Ravi Kirpalani has quit as the managing director of the Indian operations of which MNC?

10. On August 15, which monument became "first historical monument" in the world to debut on Twitter?

11. Tata Power last week announced that it has touched which milestone consumer base?

12. World cup winning football player Alessandro Del Piero will visit India on September 1. He is the brand ambassador of which two wheeler brand?

13. Maruti Suzuki last week launched the ‘Onam’ limited edition of which brand?

14. Which food brand has launched its first mass media campaign - ‘Yeh Phislee Neeyat’?

15. Google last week unveiled the name of the latest version of Android. What has it been branded as?

16. Which business group has signed a joint venture agreement with Swiss personal care products maker Mibelle to develop and sell a range of consumer products exclusively for India?

17. Which business group has tied up with Italian firm MV Agusta to launch the latter's superbikes in India, estimated to be priced between Rs 12 lakh and Rs 33 lakh?

18. Dish TV has launched its push video-on-demand (VOD) service, offering a feast of films that can be viewed without ad breaks. What has it been branded as?

19. Honda Activa has crossed which cumulative sales milestone in India?

20. Which airport last week became the first in the world to operate completely on solar power?

21. Following the trend of sportspersons turning investors, Indian cricketer Umesh Yadav has invested an undisclosed sum in which Kolkata-based hyperlocal fashion portal?

22. Which MNC has appointed company veteran Micky Pant as chief executive of its China division?

23. I liked this ad. Which rice brand launched a digital video titled 'Divided by boundaries, united by love' on the eve of 14th August?

24. Google has teamed up with networking device maker TP-Link to build a wireless Wi-Fi router. What has it been branded as?

25. In the first such tie up of its kind, which business group will manage the overall public distribution system and ration shops in Rajasthan?

26. In what will rank as one of the biggest purchases of employer stock by a professional manager, which executive will buy shares worth 60 billion yen (Rs `3,150 crore)?

27. Reserve Bank of India (RBI) last week gave `in principle' approval to how many entities for setting up payments banks?

28. Which channel has tied up with Warner Brothers to sell merchandise of popular characters and movies owned by the Hollywood studio, ranging from personal care items to home linen and apparel in India?

29. Which company has acquired 70% stake in Zea Maize, which owns the Delhi-based startup 4700BC Popcorn, for Rs `5 crore?

30. Which online marketplace for Indian fashion has launched its maiden campaign nationwide, called ‘Inherently Indian’?

31. Denver based enterprise mobile application developer AppIt Ventures has acquired which Hyderabad-based company in an undisclosed cash and equity deal?

32. In a unique employee engagement initiative, which company has created two virtual employees, named `Shubh' and `Labh', to reach out to its employees?

33. Which cloud-based customer support firm has acquired 1click[dot]io, a video chat and co- browsing platform, for an undisclosed amount?

34. Which online furniture and home décor company has released a new online campaign with four short videos featuring pets, titled ‘Creature Comforts’?

35. Which online financial services portal has launched its first brand campaign 'Proud to Pay Tax'?

36. Gagan Arora, cofounder and five-month-old CEO of consumer product customisation company Printvenue, has left the company to start a new venture. What is it called?

37. Which British celebrity chef is set to launch his famous Italian restaurant chain in Delhi, the first in the country, with plans to expand to cities across India?

38. Which US-headquartered storage solutions provider last week said it will acquire Dot Hill Systems for $694 million (around Rs 4,525 crore)?

39. The annual Economist Intelligence Unit’s (EIU) Global Liveability Index has named which city as the world’s most liveable city for the fifth consecutive year?

40. Which business group’s private equity arm has invested around $80-100 million in taxi hailing app Uber as part of a strategic partnership, which will see the two entities work closely together to expand Uber's presence in India?

41. Madhya Pradesh Tourism Development Corporation chairman and managing director (CMD) Ashwani Lohani was last week appointed CMD of which public sector entity?

42. Which MNC has said it would buy Sprout Pharmaceuticals, whose drug last week became the first approved treatment for low sexual desire in women, for about $1 billion plus milestone payments?

43. C&C Alpha Group, a private equity firm owned by India-born London businessman Sudhir Choudhrie, has sold which UK-based hospital chain to Cygnet Healthcare for about Rs 970 crore?

44. Which company last week unveiled the next level of its new age services - design thinking, platforms and knowledge-based IT - through an umbrella offering called Aikido?

45. Aditya Birla Group launched a new initiative to collaborate with innovative start-ups and provide them an opportunity to scale up in the large operating business environment. What is it called?

46. Which company has renamed itself as ‘63 moons technologies’ to reflect the company’s new strategy to focus on business opportunity in Digital India?

47. Volkswagen India’s plant in Chakan near Pune recently shipped another batch of cars to Mexico. Which milestone did it cross?

48. Which caller identification app has come out with its first mass-media campaign, featuring actor Nawazuddin Siddiqui?

49. Who has topped a Forbes list of the world's highest-paid actresses, earning some $52 million in the past year?

50. Which three Indian companies have been named among the world’s 100 most innovative companies by Forbes?

51. India's first Hard Rock Hotel is all set to open its doors this December. Which location?

52. Cab hailing app Uber has entered into a strategic partnership with which telecom company in India to make cab rides easy and WiFi enabled?

53. Twitter has renamed ‘Twitter Publisher Network’, a platform which helps advertisers connect with audiences. What will it be now called?

54. Ford India is celebrating which sales milestone (including exports) of EcoSport?

55. Which is the sole company from India named in Fortune magazine’s inaugural ‘Change the World’ list of companies making significant progress in addressing major social problems as a part of their core business strategy?

Please mail your answers on or before next Sunday to rajeevkondapalli@gmail.com with Biz Quizzard 595 as the subject.

Happy learning!
rajeev kondapalli

Biz Quizzard 594

Presenting the current affairs quiz for the week August 10 - 15. Hope you enjoy it.

1. Which MNC, in association with media agency GroupM, is planning to launch a shopping festival named Tied Together on the occasion of Raksha Bandhan?

2. Sequoia Capital, one of the most prolific startup investors in the country, is helping Groupon India break away from its $3-billion Chicago-based parent. What will be it called?

3. Philips India has roped in which celebrity to endorse its male shaving and grooming range? (campaign currently on air)

4. Which tourism board has rolled out a campaign called 'It's time for a break' in an attempt to attract more tourists to the state?

5. Which global chemicals and plastics maker has signed a definitive agreement to acquire SJS Plastiblends, an Aurangabad-based polypropylene compounds manufacturer?

6. Which MNC has agreed to buy Precision Castparts, the maker of equipment for the aerospace and energy industries, in a deal valued at $37.2 billion?

7. US product engineering firm Aricent has acquired which Bengaluru-based chip design services company for Rs 1,100 crore ($180 million)?

8. Which Indian private equity (PE) firm is snapping up majority shares in Infogain, a San Francisco-headquartered IT consulting company, for $63 million (Rs 403 crore)?

9. Which life insurance company has rolled out a new brand campaign featuring model and actress Lisa Ray?

10. Google Inc announced a new operating structure last week, creating a holding company to encompass the search engine unit and other subsidiaries. What is it called?

11. Which MNC has tied up with Uttam Galva Group to set up an integrated 3 million tonne per annum steel manufacturing facility in Sindhudurg district of Maharashtra?

12. Sanjay Jalona has been appointed as the chief executive and managing director of which IT company?

13. Which realty portal has appointed Jason Kothari as the Chief Business Officer (CBO)?

14. Which chocolate brand is celebrating Raksha Bandhan with "Bonds worth Gold" campaign?

15. Coca-Cola India has roped in which celebrity as its social ambassador in a three-year deal ending in 2017, replacing Sachin Tendulkar, whose contract ended last year?

16. Which company has announced acquisition of the UK-based cycle distributor, Avocet Sports, for an undisclosed amount?

17. Michelin-starred Indian chef Atul Kochhar is launching a restaurant in the Spanish capital of Madrid in September. What is it called?

18. Who are the only two Indian tycoons in the top 20 richest people in the world of technology, according to an inaugural list by Forbes?

19. Mobile commerce platform Paytm crossed which milestone in terms of number of wallet users?

20. Which airport has become the country’s first airport to get approval for implementation of the e-boarding facility for domestic passengers?

21. Which city has the distinction of becoming the first Indian city to be granted membership of Beijing-headquartered World Tourism Cities Federation (WTCF) Council?

22. Which company has won the Startup of the Year award in the first edition of Jio Economic Times Startup Awards?

23. Which consumer goods manufacturer has decided to go online only in a big way in India and will sell its air-conditioners and certain models of televisions and refrigerators exclusively through Flipkart?

24. Mr OP Munjal, 86, died in Ludhiana last week. He was the chairman-emeritus of which company?

25. Rohit Chadda, co-founder of which startup, has stepped down as its MD?

26. Auto portal CarDekho[dot]com has announced the launch of its commercial vehicle platform. What has it been branded as?

27. Housing[dot]com has crossed which milestone in the number of verified property listings in the Rent and Resale sections since its inception?

28. Which beverage brand has entered into an endorsement agreement with Punjabi actor-singer Diljit Dosanjh?

29. Which Singapore-based marketing platform for the food and beverage industry has acquired Triibe in an undisclosed, all-cash deal?

30. Eyewear retail chain Titan Eye Plus has roped in which celebrity to feature in its latest commercial with the positioning ’Come, fall in love’?

31. Which MNC has become the latest entrant in the mobile messaging app space with Livetext?

32. Which travel search firm has acquired Desi Backpacking Travelers, the company that runs IndianBackpacker.com, for an undisclosed sum?

33. In a first, government has roped in private sector professionals to run two of its largest banks. Name the banks?

34. Microsoft has teamed up with which state to help it deliver low cost internet connectivity in rural areas through unused TV spectrum, the first initiative of its kind in the country?

35. Which MNC has started selling custom-built Porsche Design P'9983 Graphite Smartphone in India for Rs 99,990 per unit?

36. Arvind Lifestyle Brands Limited last week launched America’s largest kids’ specialty apparel retailer in India. Name the company?

37. Which mobile app last week announced a first of its kind partnership with The Directorate General Resettlement (DGR) under the Ministry of Defence to extend an opportunity for Ex-servicemen to turn entrepreneurs?

38. Which Indian company has entered into a partnership with Payveris to jointly provide payment solutions to banks and credit unions in the US?

39. Which airline has reportedly roped in Jennifer Aniston to appear in a global digital and television campaign, in a deal valued at $5 million?

40. Finally, launching a new segment called Bollywood Gossip (just kidding :)). Actress Asin is reportedly all set to marry which business personality?

Please mail your answers on or before next Sunday to rajeevkondapalli@gmail.com with Biz Quizzard 594 as the subject.

Happy learning!
rajeev kondapalli

Biz Quizzard 593

Presenting the current affairs quiz for the week August 03 - 08. Hope you enjoy it.

1. Hidesign has launched a new collection of bags and wallets inspired by which Sicilian town, known for its majestic red wines and scenic architecture?

2. Which company has acquired Goa-based beer brand Kings Beer from Impala Distillery and Brewery for Rs 90 crore?

3. Which business group has hired Jaspreet Bindra, an angel investor and former CEO of Askme[dot]com, to lead its digital and ecommerce strategy?

4. Which company has bought financial products company YTS Solutions?

5. Which entity has opened a demat account (1601010000384828) with the Stock Holding Corporation of India, marking a first in the country?

6. Roland S Folger will take over as the new managing director and chief executive of the India operations of which automobile MNC from October 1?

7. Which company last week launched its biosimilar Rituximab under the brand name Maball in Indian market?

8. Which city bagged has been ranked the best value destination among nine key Indian cities for a city break, according to a survey by TripAdvisor, a travel portal?

9. Which hair oil brand has launched its latest campaign with the positioning ‘Ek mazboot rishta’?

10. Which MNC’s hospitality arm will soon launch the Japanese national beverages Shochu as well as rice wine Sake in India?

11. Which online marketplace has launched a campaign titled ‘Rainovation’ inviting online shoppers to get drenched in deals?

12. Which MNC last week launched the sports brand Abarth in India with the debut of the 595 Competizione hatchback?

13. Honda last week unveiled a 160 cc motorcycle in India. What has it been branded as?

14. Parkway Hospital, owned by Malaysia's biggest healthcare group IHH, has acquired 74% stake in which Hyderabad-based hospital chain for an equity value of Rs 1,800 crore?

15. Which facility management services provider has acquired UK's Office and General (O&G) Group for Rs 65 crore?

16. Which Paris-headquartered consumer electronic brand last week announced its re-entry into the Indian market after a decade?

17. Which MNC has launched ‘Bade Sapno ki Sahi Shuruat’ campaign to encourage people to achieve their dreams by making the right start with a balanced breakfast?

18. Shoppers Stop and Bennett, Coleman & Co Ltd (BCCL), one of India's leading multimedia groups, have tied up to extend which BCCL brand into the consumer products space?

19. HR services company Ma Foi founders and husband-wife team, K. Pandia Rajan and Latha Rajan last week launched a new analytics driven company. What has it been branded as?

20. Visa Inc, the global payments technology solution firm, will make India the global test hub to pilot an app-based mobile payments service. What will it be called?

21. Which company has set up an in-house advertising company called Goldilocks India to take care of all the creative mandates of its various business verticals?

22. Which fairness cream for men has launched a commercial featuring actor Emran Hashmi?

23. Quikr has roped in which celebrity as its national brand ambassador?

24. Cricketer Yuvraj Singh’s company YouWeCan Ventures has invested in which US burger chain?

25. Italian super car maker Ferrari is set for an India debut on August 26. Which will be the first model?

26. Which company has acquired Swiss tourism major Kuoni's travel business in India and Hong Kong for Rs 535 crore?

27. Japan's Suzuki Motor will unveil its premium hatchback at the Frankfurt Motor Show next month. What has it been branded as?

28. Which MNC will buy medical image company Merge Healthcare Inc. in a $1 billion deal?

29. Which company has become the first Indian private firm to license technology of a full-scale system from DRDO for Lakshya, the pilotless target system that will be sold to the armed forces?

30. How many Indian actors feature in the top 10 of the ‘World’s Highest-Paid Actors’ 2015 list of Forbes?

31. Which paints brand has roped in Shraddha Kapoor as its new brand ambassador?

32. Which company has launched its new national campaign Ayushmaan Bhava, featuring brand ambassador Aishwarya Rai Bachchan?

33. Which celebrity has launched her own production house ‘Isidro’?

34. Shoppers Stop has inked a deal to launch its own store on which online marketplace?

35. Which MNC has named Rekha Menon as its new India chairman?

Please mail your answers on or before next Sunday to rajeevkondapalli@gmail.com with Biz Quizzard 593 as the subject.

Happy learning!
rajeev kondapalli

Biz Quizzard 592

Presenting the current affairs quiz for the week July 27 - August 01. Hope you enjoy it.

1. Which company has acquired Valcambi, the world's largest precious metal refiner, for $400 million (about Rs 2,600 crore) in an all-cash deal?

2. Which company is set to buy the veterinary business of Mumbai-based Lyka Labs?

3. Which cricketer has signed a three-year Rs 35-crore contract with IOS Sports & Entertainment?

4. Rohit Ohri will join which advertising agency as group chairman and CEO in January 2016?

5. Which hyperlocal delivery company has acquired taxi company BookMyCab to launch services in Mumbai?

6. Which MNC has agreed to buy the generic drug business of Allergan for about $40.5 billion in cash and stock?

7. Which Abu Dhabi-based retail major has entered into a £110-million agreement with a London developer to build a bespoke five-star hotel at the iconic Great Scotland Yard?

8. Which MNC has appointed Sunil Lalvani, former chief of BlackBerry India and Saarc, as president of its India operations?

9. Which public sector company has appointed Tapan Kumar Chand as chairman and managing director?

10. Renault India has roped in which celebrity as brand ambassador?

11. Avinash Vashistha has resigned as the chairman and country managing director of which MNC?

12. Which bank recently kick-started its centenary celebrations by unveiling a centenary logo?

13. Which health insurance company last week launched a ‘Dengue Care’ scheme?

14. Mondelez India has launched an 'aerated chocolate' under the Cadbury Dairy Milk Silk brand. What has it been sub-branded as?

15. Which brand has topped the 2015 edition of Brand Footprint, the IMRB Kantar Worldpanel’s ranking of the most chosen consumer brands in India?

16. Which business group is forming a manufacturing joint venture with Rafael of Israel to produce Spike Anti-Tank Guided Missiles (ATGM) in India?

17. The founders of online fashion marketplace Zovi have raised $50 million for their new app-only venture. What is it called?

18. Which MNC has named company insider David Taylor as president and chief executive effective November 1?

19. Which MNC bank has agreed to buy retail brokerage Sharekhan from its current set of PE owners for an undisclosed sum?

20. Which company has bagged the rights to be the title sponsor for all international cricket matches to be played in India till 2019?

21. Tablez Food Company, the food and beverage arm of Lulu International Group, has signed an agreement with US-based Kahala Brands to bring which ice-cream brand to India and Sri Lanka?

22. Which travel firm has acquired Luxe Asia, one of the top destination management firms in Sri Lanka, for an undisclosed sum?

23. Mahindra & Mahindra will be launching a new sub-4 meter SUV in the middle of September. What has it been branded as?

24. Which company has partnered with Japan's Igarashi Electric Works to acquire Agile Electric Sub Assembly, a Chennai-based electric motor manufacturer?

25. Which e-commerce major last week launched India Art House, an exclusive online store offering sellers a platform to promote regional products?

26. Tata Motors recently celebrated the 10th anniversary of which brand?

27. Which luggage brand has launched the official Disney and Marvel collection for the first time in India?

28. Which celebrity has launched her clothing brand Madz?

29. Which chocolate brand has launched two limited edition variants - Black Forest and Coffee Almond – and has launched a new commercial for Friendship Day?

30. Which brand has retained its position as India’s most valuable brand in this year’s annual study conducted by the U.K. based Brand Finance, a leading brand valuation consultancy?

31. Who is the latest celebrity to join the bandwagon of launching her own scent, The PinkPrint, which shares a name with her latest album?

32. Which international luxury sanitaryware brand has rolled out a new TV commercial featuring brand ambassador Jacqueline Fernandez?

33. Which television channel has roped in Ameen Sayani for radio spots to promote its new show?

34. Which toy company in India has firmed up plans to unleash merchandise related to Walt Disney's upcoming space opera film Star Wars: The Force Awakens?

35. Which MNC has launched CODO, being called the world’s smallest pocket washing machine?

36. Which company has launched a new hair colour product, Nupur Coconut Henna Crème Hair Colour?

37. Which MNC has agreed to buy fashion start-up Polyvore to help drive traffic and strengthen its mobile and social offerings?

38. Which Pune-based tablet and mobile phone maker has launched its online-only sub-brand, Elite?

39. Smartlink Network Systems has roped in which celebrity as a national brand ambassador for the DIGISOL range of wireless and networking products?

40. Which MNC has showcased OZO, the first commercially available virtual reality (VR) camera designed and built for professional content creators?

Please mail your answers on or before next Sunday to rajeevkondapalli@gmail.com with Biz Quizzard 592 as the subject.

Happy learning!
rajeev kondapalli