Biz Quizzard 635

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

1. Mahindra Group chairman Anand Mahindra has invested an undisclosed amount in which digital storytelling platform for women, founded by journalist Shaili Chopra?

2. Which salon chain has launched a digital campaign #DirtyLittleSecret to promote its dry shampoo?

3. Which beverage brand has launched a social media campaign with hashtags #DontBeASucker and #CanIt?

4. Which French dating app was recently launched in India?

5. Which Indian hotel management firm has forayed into South Sudan by taking over management of Panorama hotel in the country's capital Juba?

6. Which Australian fitness studio chain last week announced its foray into India by opening its first centre in Hyderabad?

7. Which general insurance firm last week announced the launch of what it claims as a one of its kind "community" platform for public?

8. Which digital payments platform has elevated Govind Rajan as the Chief Executive Officer of the company?

9. Dubai Future Foundation has built a temporary headquarters near the Dubai International Financial Centre. What is its claim to fame?

10. Which skin care maker has launched a campaign that goes against the wave of fairness creams and beautifully spreads the message #proudofmycolour?

11. Which online fashion portal has launched its new campaign with commercials featuring actors Abhay Deol, Ira Dubey, Prateik Babbar and Amol Parashar?

12. Which company has acquired the online and offline rights of Forever 21 as the US fast fashion brand changed its India partner for the third time?

13. Which two edible oil majors last week agreed to form a JV that will combine their vegetable oil, soya foods and grains businesses?

14. Which Indian company has forayed into branded consumer health products segment in the US market by acquiring six OTC brands from Ducere Pharma for an undisclosed amount?

15. Which bank has become the first in India to deploy Positive Pay, a feature which allows customers to transfer images of the cheques they have issued to the bank, for individual account holders?

16. Which MNC last week launched the first tablet equipped with an Aadhaar-certified iris scanner in India?

17. Who has been named as `Third Most Marketable Sportsperson' in the world, in a latest survey published by magazine `SportsPro'?

18. Which 3 Indian companies have been featured among the top 100 global luxury goods firms, according to a Deloitte report?

19. French car maker Renault last week announced the company’s entry to pre-owned car business with the launch of the new format in Bengaluru. What has it been branded as?

20. Angelina Jolie is to join which business school as a visiting professor on a new master’s course on women, peace and security?

21. Which health food company has acquired Bangalore-based food delivery company Sangeetha Aahar for an undisclosed amount?

22. Which home service provider has launched a film with the positioning "Zindagi ke choti khushiyon ke liye", to promote its home beauty services segment among women in India?

23. Which company has said it would buy UK-headquartered financial technology firm Target Group to boost its platform business process as a service offering in the banking sector?

24. Which US-based restaurant chain has tied up with food and beverage franchise management company Yellow Tie Hospitality to enter India?

25. Taxi app Ola has unveiled its luxury taxi service in Mumbai. What has it been branded as?

26. Which social-shopping platform for women is diversifying into the men's category, a move aimed at expanding its scale?

27. Which Indian mortgage lender has been ranked among the world’s 10 biggest and most powerful companies in the consumer financial services sector on a Forbes’ list?

28. Which diagnostic chain last week said it will fully acquire Delta Ria and Pathology?

29. Which MNC has sold U.S. apparel firm Mitchell & Ness?

30. Which apparel brand has launched a digital campaign for its new range of sari collection called Mazhavil (Rainbow)?

Please mail your answers on or before next Sunday to rajeevkondapalli@gmail.com with Biz Quizzard 635 as the subject.

Happy learning!

rajeev kondapalli

Biz Quizzard 634

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

1. Tata Group is set to board the ecommerce bus with the launch of its online marketplace by the end of this month. What has it been branded as?

2. Which on-demand autorickshaw aggregator has restarted hyperlocal delivery by launching a service called Fatafat?

3. Which MNC will buy Anacor Pharmaceuticals in a deal valued at $5.2 billion to gain access to Anacor's experimental gel for treating eczema?

4. Which IT firm and sound-based proximity communication provider ToneTag have announced a partnership to provide a range of digital banking solutions for the banking and retail industries?

5. Which IT firm has partnered with California-based Xactly Corporation to offer cloud-based solutions to organisations to improve sales performance and drive growth?

6. Which IT firm and Siemens have partnered to expand and enhance the delivery of big data analytics to the global manufacturing industry?

7. Which MNC has announced the appointment of Nitin Prasad as its new chairman for India?

8. Which company has entered the honey market through its FMCG brand i-Flo?

9. Which MNC game maker is planning to make movies, using cash from the sale of its stake in the Mariners baseball team?

10. Which Quick Serve Restaurant chain (QSR) recently launched its new digital campaign 'Plate of Hope' under the theme 'add Hope', an initiative to fight hunger in the country?

11. Chaitali Moitra will be the new managing director of which publishing company?

12. Emami Ltd has launched a new variant of deodorant and appointed Hrithik Roshan and Vir Das to launch a campaign. Name the brand?

13. Which company has officially forayed into the Indian market with its mobile brand itel and will roll out feature phones, smartphones and mobile accessories?

14. Which MNC has bought out Indian partner Chanakya Hotels' stake in their joint venture Country Development and Management Services for an undisclosed amount?

15. Which American health and wellness group is inking a franchise partnership with Chandigarh-based hospitality and food services firm KWalls Hospitality?

16. Ratan Tata has invested an undisclosed amount in which San Francisco-based medical emergency response start-up company?

17. Which Gujarat-based milk ice cream brand last week announced its entry into Delhi NCR?

18. Fruit juice company Manpasand Beverages Limited last week announced its foray into coconut drink segment. What has it been branded as?

19. Which agrochemicals company has decided to give its chairman Vijay Mallya three months to resolve his debt-repayment dispute with banks after which the company will seek to replace him?

20. Which e-commerce company’s logistics unit is set to launch a courier service that will take on the likes of DTDC Express and First Flight Courier?

21. Which company will invest Rs 130 crore to buy a controlling stake in CCI Logistics?

22. Which MNC is set to acquire 74% stake in Tata Communications' data centre business that is primarily located in India and Singapore for Rs 3,330 crore ($497 million)?

23. Nokia has signed an exclusive 10-year licensing deal with Finnish company HMD Global Oy to create phones and tablets under which brand, manufactured by a subsidiary of Taiwan's Foxconn?

24. Tetsuro Aikawa will step down as the president of which automobile MNC?

25. Which Indian company has announced a five-year partnership with Lidingöloppet, the Swedish sports event, widely regarded as the world’s largest cross-country run?

26. Which hair oil brand has launched its new campaign ‘Dikho Khoobsurat , Karo Khoobsurat’?

27. Which artificial intelligence-powered chat app has received undisclosed funds from Tata Sons chairman emeritus Ratan Tata?

28. Mayank Ashar has quit as the CEO of which company?

29. Which cement company has launched a campaign christened 'Swach Jal Sabka Haq' to provide clean and cold drinking water?

30. Which MNC has deployed its Smart City solution at Rashtrapati Bhavan, utilising connected technologies for the efficient management of utilities across the 330 acre property?

Please mail your answers on or before next Sunday to rajeevkondapalli@gmail.com with Biz Quizzard 634 as the subject.

Happy learning!

rajeev kondapalli

Biz Quizzard 633

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

1. US-based pen maker Reynolds' Indian licensee GM Pens International has decided to go solo and plans to become a global player with its own brand. Name it?

2. Hyperlocal logistics player Roadrunnr and which food-ordering platform are merging in an all-stock deal?

3. Which cloud telephony company has acqui-hired Delhi-based customer engagement platform Smartwards?

4. Which handset maker has roped in Deepak Kabu of Intex Technologies as its CEO?

5. Spencer’s store at Chennai’s CP Ramaswamy Road celebrated its 20th anniversary on May 9. What is its claim to fame?

6. The owner of which famous sweet shop (now closed) in Delhi has sued Shahrukh Khan for featuring its box of sweets in the movie Fan?

7. Which brand launched its campaign #SayItWithHugs for Mother’s day?

8. Which radio station has launched 'Candy Class' project to educate slum kids?

9. Which US-based hotel tech firm has entered the Indian market by setting up its second global delivery centre outside the US in Hyderabad?

10. Which London-based start-up has launched its operation in India and has set up its pilot project - a “super budget” hotel with tariffs of Rs. 100 per day?

11. A small tech company, MGT Capital Investments, an investor in fantasy sports and mobile games, shot into limelight last week after naming its new CEO. Who?

12. Which beverage brand has launched its new digital film 'Rizwan'?

13. Which fast food chain has launched its new campaign #SabPeBhari?

14. Which automobile brand has tied up with consumer electronics company Bullitt Group to develop a bespoke smartphone and range of accessories?

15. Which online classifieds player has acquired Salosa, an on-demand in-home beauty services provider?

16. Sebi last week imposed a 4-year ban on Sai Multi Services and pulled the plug on a ponzi scheme involving purchase of what?

17. Which Chennai-based on-demand chauffeur provider has acquired Mumbai-based startup Driven?

18. Which education start-up has acquired ThinkLABS, a science and technology education provider for an undisclosed amount?

19. Which San Francisco-based start-up has forayed into India with its app Simkarma?

20. Maharashtra Ex-servicemen’s Corporation (MESCO) has launched a military tourism initiative for civilians. What has it been branded as?

21. Which MNC has launched a digital film called #SoundOfWork that has no dialogues, just a soundtrack that's an amalgamation of sounds generated in its factories?

22. Which sanitary ware brand has launched its new campaign ‘Looks good, works great’?

23. Realty developer Kanakia Spaces has roped in which football legend as brand ambassador for its project Kanakia Paris in Mumbai's business district in Bandra-Kurla Complex?

24. Which MNC has acquired a controlling stake in Turmeric Vision, which operates specialty channel Food Food?

25. Which two-wheeler maker in India last week forayed into motor cycle rally racing by forming a strategic partnership with German off-road racing specialist Speedbrain?

26. Which Italian superbike brand, part-owned by Mercedes-Benz's AMG unit, last week launched the most expensive two-wheeler in the Indian market?

27. Which IT firm has acquired Hatstand, a global financial services consultancy and capital markets specialist for an undisclosed amount?

28. Which company is all set to unveil its omni-channel venture Nnnow(dot)com?

29. Which iconic brand will rebrand itself as “America” from May 23 through to the Nov. 8 presidential election to “inspire drinkers to celebrate America”?

30. Which two-wheeler company has launched a campaign titled 'A salute to the stars behind the stars'?

31. Which iconic soap brand from India is celebrating 100 years of existence?

32. Which real estate company has entered the senior living sector with the Primus brand?

33. Ukraine-based Antonov Company’s wide body cargo aircraft-MRIYA last week landed at the Hyderabad airport. Why did this make news?

34. Which Hyderabad-based personal care company has entered the skincare sector with two herbal products Skin +ve beauty cream and Skin+ve body lotion?

35. Which US-based early smartwatch maker last week announced its foray into India's nascent but growing wearables market?

36. Which automobile brand is being advertised with the positioning ‘Let the hunt begin’?

37. Which two-wheeler brand has launched its new campaign, with the tagline ‘Meelon Chalti Muskaan’?

38. ITC Foods has forayed into digestive biscuit segment. Name the brand?

39. Which company is claiming to be “India’s first video medicine company” and is gearing up to establish the world’s largest virtual medical clinic?

40. Which Mumbai-based company is acquiring four brands of US drug maker Pfizer for Rs 110 crore?

41. Which online coupon and cashback firm has launched Sorted, a last minute hotel booking mobile application?

42. Which company has signed an exclusive deal to bring London-based designer brand Simon Carter to India?

43. Which online apparel rental start-up has shut shop within six months of raising its maiden round of funding?

44. Which India-based messaging app last week launched its App store to integrate frequently used apps and services into its platform?

45. Which MNC wants to digitally map the interiors of buildings in 3D down to a resolution of a few inches, and make money in virtual reality along the way, through a project named Tango?

Please mail your answers on or before next Sunday to rajeevkondapalli@gmail.com with Biz Quizzard 633 as the subject.

Happy learning!

rajeev kondapalli

Biz Quizzard 632

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

1. Which company, along with Saudi Aramco and Princess Nourah University (PNU), last week inaugurated Saudi Arabia's first all-women business and technology park (WBP)?

2. Which retail chain has appointed Viney Singh as its director and CEO?

3. Which Swiss watch maker has signed an endorsement deal with cricketer Rohit Sharma?

4. Which company will launch four new channels by March next year, including a comedy channel christened ‘Happii’?

5. Levi Strauss' managing director for India, Sanjay Purohit, is set to join which India-focused private equity fund as partner for consumer and retail practice?

6. Toyota Kirloskar Motor (TKM) last week announced the launch of an all new version of its popular multi-purpose vehicle Innova. What has it been branded as?

7. Sergio Marchionne has been named CEO of which sports car maker?

8. Australian businessman Craig Wright last week claimed to be the inventor of which online cash system?

9. Who has assumed the role of MD at Bharti Retail?

10. Which beverage brand has roped in Priyanka Chopra as brand ambassador?

11. Which apparel brand has launched its new campaign with ‘Blue is Blue’ as a tagline?

12. Which digital and entertainment company has forayed into the jewellery retailing business under the franchise model and is looking to open 500 stores under brand 'Bjewelz'?

13. Bharti Airtel has renamed its mobile commerce arm Airtel M-Commerce Services Ltd. What is the new name?

14. Which MNC has acquired Synergyse Training, a business technology start-up founded by Indian-origin entrepreneur Varun Malhotra and his business partners?

15. Which company has acquired virtual reality startup Volob Technologies in an all-cash deal?

16. Which wallet’s users will be able to pay for their Uber cab rides abroad in Indian rupees by the end of May?

17. Maruti Suzuki has crossed which sales milestone for cars with automatic gear shift technology since it was introduced in early 2014?

18. Which airline in India is launching its first large scale multimedia campaign in nearly a decade, with the tagline “Get More”?

19. What would be the entity formed after the record-breaking merger of Dell and EMC be called?

20. Which celebrity-promoted fund is venturing into the fast-moving fashion casual wear space under the YWC label?

21. Which MNC has said it would aim to sell off its golf brands TaylorMade, Adams and Ashworth?

22. Which Swiss hearing aid maker is buying Dutch-based AudioNova for 830 million euros ($953 million), its largest acquisition till date?

23. Google has said it would expand its testing of autonomous vehicles by installing its technology in a fleet of minivans made by which MNC?

24. Which company will acquire a 1,000-mega watt power plant in Chhattisgarh from Naveen Jindal's JSPL in an Rs 4,000-crore deal?

25. Air-cooler maker Symphony Ltd has created a wall-mounted air cooler for household customers. What has it been branded as?

26. Which MNC has for the first time set up a global public policy advisory board and has appointed an Indian, Adil Zainulbhai, as part of the eight- member board?

27. Which company has launched a new campaign for its air conditioners, with the positioning ‘Let there be Chill’?

28. Which brand has launched a nose pin collection called Caprici in India?

29. Which fast food chain has launched its new campaign ‘Ab nahin koi ajnabi’?

30. Which business group last week said it has developed a watch exclusively for factory workers which can provide critical real-time safety data?

31. Ex-Tata Starbucks CEO Avani Davda will be the new managing director of which retail chain?

32. Which ecommerce company has acquired TargetingMantra, a move that will help it enhance personalisation of shopping experience of customers?

33. Which company has forayed into the super-premium chocolate segment with a luxury offering branded Fabelle?

34. Mr Pralhad P Chhabria, 86, passed away last week. He was the founder and chairman of which business group?

35. Which MNC has reportedly named company executive Sanjay Kaul as its new India country manager?

36. Which fast food chain is launching two limited edition flavoured nail polishes in Hong Kong to help promote its food?

37. Which well known chef has been roped in by Gill Capital, owned by Punjab-born, Singapore-based billionaire Jagdev Singh Gill, to whip up the fine-dining business?

38. Which automobile company has come out with its latest communications campaign - a series of eight films on road safety?

39. Which entity has become the first public sector bank to open its IFSC Banking Unit (IBU) at the International Financial Services Centre (IFSC) in Gujarat International Finance Tec-City (GIFT)?

40. Which company is picking up a majority stake in online jewellery brand and retailer Caratlane?

41. Syed Safawi has quit as the CEO of which telecom infrastructure company?

42. Who has topped The Forbes Five club of hip-hop's wealthiest artists list released last week?

43. In a move aimed at hampering cash transactions by terrorists, drug dealers and money launderers, the European Central Bank last week announced an end to which denomination bank note?

44. Which beer brand is all set to hit the market in a brand new avatar, along with a new packaging of the tallest and most curvaceous bottle in the category?

45. Which well known Hindi news channel has now become a Free-To-Air (FTA) channel?

Please mail your answers on or before next Sunday to rajeevkondapalli@gmail.com with Biz Quizzard 632 as the subject.

Happy learning!

rajeev kondapalli

Biz Quizzard 631

Presenting the current affairs quiz for the April 25 - 30. Hope you enjoy it.

1. India’s first small finance bank was launched in Jalandhar on April 24. Name it?

2. Which Italian eyewear company will launch Dior Eyewear in India this Year?

3. Which Mumbai-born tycoons have topped The Sunday Times Rich List 2016 for UK with a fortune of 13.1billion pounds?

4. Piramal Enterprise has launched the first television campaign for which recently acquired baby care brand?

5. Which logistics solutions platform has acquired YourGuy, a cross-category last mile delivery company in Mumbai?

6. Which beverage brand has launched its new commercial with the positioning 'har ghoont ras bhara aam'?

7. Which app-based cab hailing service brand recently withdrew one commercial from its campaign as it was being perceived as sexist?

8. Which company has announced its foray into sub-five tonne category of commercial vehicles with the launch of Pro 1049?

9. Which Singapore-based startup has partnered Virat Kohli to launch a 'fanbox' that will include a Moto G Turbo smartphone and a one-year subscription to Virat's exclusive fan club?

10. FMCG major Godrej Consumer Products Ltd (GCPL) plans to roll out which mosquito repellent brand in Africa as part of its plan to expand presence in the continent?

11. European aerospace giant Airbus last week handed over an A321 passenger jet to US carrier JetBlue. Why did this make news?

12. Sirin Labs, a Tel Aviv-based startup, is set to rollout a smartphone called “Solarin” by May-end. What will be its claim to fame?

13. Which digital payments platform has launched its new brand campaign, ‘Lo Do Khatam Karo’?

14. Which MNC’s India managing director Amit Agarwal has been inducted into its CEO’s core S-team?

15. Which adhesives and industrial chemicals manufacturer has roped in Italy's Industria Chimica Adriatica Spa as a joint venture (JV) partner in its wholly-owned arm Wood Coat?

16. Which global private equity firm has acquired a 65% stake in India-focused Cancer Treatment Services International for $33 million?

17. Which Hyderabad-based quick service restaurant chain has acquired another Hyderabad-based startup - The First Meal?

18. Which innerwear brand has used Nina Simone’s voice singing ‘Feelin’ Good’ in its latest commercial?

19. Which MNC is acquiring French fitness gadget maker Withings for EUR 170 million or $191 million to strengthen its position in the Internet of Things market?

20. Which company has entered into an exclusive pact with Singapore-based TWG Tea to set up upscale tea lounges in India?

21. Which online handicrafts marketplace has acquired women's clothes rental platform F2SO4 in an all-stock deal that will also bring on board the team that ran the firm?

22. Google CEO Sundar Pichai and Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg, among others, have reportedly pledged to form a foundation in the name of which legendary Indian?

23. Which MNC has reached an agreement with ice-cream maker R&R Ice Cream to set up a joint venture to run most of the former’s ice cream business outside North America?

24. Which company has acquired majority interest in Italian engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contractor STC Power, marking its first overseas purchase?

25. Who has overtaken Dalian Wanda Group Co.'s Wang Jianlin as Asia's richest man, according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index?

26. Which company has elevated Deputy Managing Director Gautam Chatterjee as Managing Director and CEO?

27. Which MNC has launched its new digital campaign #DitchYourKeys?

28. Which fast food chain’s first intelligent robot concept store, "Original+", has been launched at Shanghai, China?

29. Zodiac Clothing Co. Ltd. (ZCCL) recently launched its spring – summer 2016 collection by bringing back which icon across its brands?

30. Which MNC last week rolled out its India-made D-Max V-Cross pick-up from the newly-launched facility in Andhra Pradesh?

31. A unit of which Chinese conglomerate has agreed to buy Carlson Hotels, the owner of several brands including Radisson and Country Inns and Suites?

32. Which company has picked up a strategic stake in Bengaluru-based engineering services firm Tessolve Semiconductor and plans a phased acquisition of a majority stake by the end of the year?

33. Which healthcare IT firm, backed by Infosys cofounder NS Raghavan, has bought Canada's Skura Technologies for $9 million (about Rs 60 crore)?

34. Which company will set up India’s first auto shredding plant, in partnership with state-controlled MSTC Ltd near a port, aiming to begin operations within a year?

35. Advitiya Sharma, a cofounder at Housing(dot)com, has launched his next venture, in the education sector. What is it called?

36. Which kitchen appliance brand last week announced its foray into the domestic home cleaning market?

37. Which detergent brand has launched its new ad film ad film #ReadyForLife?

38. Which online coupon platform has undergone a brand identity makeover and has unveiled its new logo, a customised piggy bank in the shape of an elephant?

39. Which ophthalmic lens maker has appointed cricketer and former Indian captain Sourav Ganguly as brand ambassador?

40. How many Indian origin persons have been named among the 100 highest-paid CEOs globally, in a list compiled by Equilar?

41. Which mobile phone maker has launched its new smiling logo and tagline, ‘Make Smiles’?

42. Which IT major has launched a machine learning platform called Mana?

43. Country Club Hospitality and Holidays has roped in which sports personality as its new brand ambassador?

44. A new smartphone, Docoss X1, has been launched in India. Why is this making news?

45. Ashok Chawla, former chief of Competition Commission, will be the new chairman of which entity, subject to approval from market watchdog Sebi?

Please mail your answers on or before next Sunday to rajeevkondapalli@gmail.com with Biz Quizzard 631 as the subject.

Happy learning!

rajeev kondapalli