Biz Quizzard 661

Presenting the current affairs quiz for the period November 21 - 26. Hope you enjoy it.

1. Which company has acquired home rental startup Grabhouse in an all-stock deal aimed at strengthening its realty vertical?

2. Which MNC bank has appointed Siby Sebastian as Chief Executive for its India operations?

3. Which 24-hour food and lifestyle television channel has rolled out the campaign ‘Obsessed with Food’ to commemorate its first anniversary?

4. Which MNC has launched its first accelerator programme for startups called DNA (discover, nurture and align) to gain a foothold in the country's booming startup market?

5. Uber has partnered with which wedding planning website to offer mobility solutions for wedding-related travel in 12 Indian cities?

6. Hyundai Motor India Ltd. last week achieved which production milestone at its Sriperumbudur facility, near Chennai?

7. Pankaj R Patel has been elected as president of Ficci for 2017.  He is the chairman and managing director of which company?

8. Celebrating the demonetisation move, which brand launched the campaign ‘Nahi rukega India. Cashless chalega India’?

9. Which global communications company has appointed Nirvik Singh as the CEO of the Middle East and Africa region?

10. Which location remains the costliest in the country to rent a shop, as per the 28th edition of the Cushman & Wakefield report, `Main Streets Across the World?

11. Pranab Kumar Choudhury, fondly known as PKC in the country's financial circle, passed away last week. He was credited with building which rating company from scratch?

12. Which pharmaceutical company has appointed Uday Baldota as its CEO?

13. Which US buyout firm is buying Nissan Motor-backed auto parts maker Calsonic Kansei Corp for up to 498.3 billion yen ($4.5 billion) in its biggest deal in Japan?

14. Which realty major has ventured into education with the launch of its first educational institute Next School?

15. Ola last week unveiled a new car entertainment platform that allows passengers to listen to the music of their choice. What has it been branded as?

16. Which innerwear brand has launched a new campaign with the tagline ‘raho garma-garam’?

17. Bharti Airtel last week launched its payments bank services as a pilot, becoming the first payments bank in the country to go live. Which state?

18. Which packaging firm has bought out mid-sized Delhi-based Varahi Polymers in a Rs 350-crore deal?

19. Which drug maker’s UK arm has sold the entire 16.7% stake it held in Chase Pharma, a US-based clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company, to Allergan, famous for its Botox brand?

20. Who is the only Indian among three persons of Indian origin to be featured in US magazine Fortune's top 50 business persons list for 2016?

21. Which international property consultant has elevated industry veteran Naveen Nandwani as managing director, Bengaluru and Kochi?

22. Which pharma company will acquire 85.1% in a Russian company, JSC Biosintez, in a deal valued at $60 million to focus on emerging markets?

23. TVS has announced that it will introduce the production ready motorcycle of its tie-up with BMW, by March 2017. What has the model been branded as?

24. Anand Halve passed away last week. He was the co-founder of which creative agency?

25. Which company and leading Japanese snack company Kameda Seika will jointly invest $10 million in a 51:49 joint venture to sell rice-based snacks in India?

26. Which company last week introduced four ecycles with electric pedal assisted technology under the Lectro brand, priced between Rs 42,000 and Rs 83,000?

27. Which health insurance company was launched in the country last week?

28. Which MNC has acquired the DNS provider called Dyn?

29. Revenues of the Indian unit of Unicharm Corp have crossed which milestone mark in the year to March?

30. The wholly-owned UK subsidiary of which Indian company has entered into an agreement with Sweden's Moberg Pharma to acquire its PediaCare brand for a total consideration of $5 million?

31. The French subsidiary of which Indian pharma company will be acquiring select commercial products from Teva in France?

32. Maruti Suzuki has launched a limited edition variant of WagonR. What has it been branded as?

33. Which US-based global entrepreneur network has appointed Govind Kavaturi as the new India President?

34. Which MNC last week launched two new single malts, "Ardmore" and "Bowmore 12 year old" in India?

35. Which realty developer has roped in Gauri Khan as its brand ambassador and to design signature interiors for its premium residential projects?

Please mail your answers on or before next Sunday to rajeevkondapalli@gmail.com with Biz Quizzard 661 as the subject. Answers will be mailed to those who attempt the current edition within the given time.

Happy learning!

rajeev kondapalli

Biz Quizzard 660

Presenting the current affairs quiz for the period November 14 - 19. Hope you enjoy it.

1. Who has become the only non-Tata person to sit on the boards of Tata Sons and Sir Dorabji Tata Trust (SDTT)?

2. Which Luxembourg-based messaging service provider has globally launched `Public Accounts', a new tool for its international users?

3. Mobile payments platform Paytm recently touched which milestone mark of number of transactions per day?

4. Which creative agency is celebrating its 70th anniversary as ‘70 mm agency’?

5. Which ethnic wear brand has launched its new ad campaign, ‘Aadha Aadha’?

6. Which beverage maker in India is foraying into foods, starting next month?

7. Which organic food brand is entering the ready-to-cook and snacks category?

8. Which sports-based entertainment company is now launching its first international property in the US on December 14?

9. Which global talent, retirement and health solutions business has acquired Gurgaon-based hiring assessment company CoCubes in an all cash deal?

10. Which business group is partnering with British wholesaler Booker Group to open cash-and-carry stores and compete directly with Walmart and Metro in the country?

11. Which MNC has agreed to buy US-based software maker Mentor Graphics Corp for $4.5 billion in its biggest acquisition since 2014?

12. Which MNC has announced an $8-billion deal to buy car tech firm Harman International Industries for $8 billion?

13. Which hygiene brand has introduced Healthy Hands Chalk Sticks to emphasise the importance of washing hands before eating?

14. Which business group has partnered with Cisco Jasper to launch UNLIMIT, an independent unit which will provide Internet of Things (IoT) services?

15. Which cosmetics maker last week snapped up the beauty products brand Too Faced for $1.45 billion in its biggest acquisition to date?

16. Which MNC last week introduced its entry-level compact SUV Macan, its first sub-Rs 1 crore car in the country?

17. Mutual fund folios in the country crossed which milestone mark in October?

18. Which bakery brand has launched a new campaign 'Yummy waali shararat'?

19. Pune-based builder Paranjape Schemes (Construction) Ltd (PSCL) has signed up which ex-cricketer as brand ambassador for its 'Athashri' projects?

20. Which company last week said it will set up an industrial training institute in Mehsana, Gujarat, christened as “Japan-India Institute of Manufacturing” (JIM)?

21. Which sports management company has entered into a multi-year commercial agreement with Indian Boxing Council (IBC), the governing body for professional boxing in India?

22. Times Internet Limited (TIL) has named former Twitter India head Rishi Jaitly as chief executive of which business unit?

23. Which MNC has launched a campaign "Spread the glow inside out” for ‘Be Bright’, a range of skincare products?

24. Which well know brand has launched a new campaign, titled ‘Taste that frees the joy’?

25. Malvika Mehra has announced her plans to launch an independent outfit, Tomorrow Creative Lab. She is the former national creative director of which creative agency?

26. Reliance Industries and which MNC have formed a partnership to provide digital solutions for industrial use?

27. Which telecom company has incorporated a new unit, Towercom Infrastructure Private (TIPL), which will be an infrastructure company?

28. Which company has decided to sell its Titawi Sugar Mill in Uttar Pradesh for Rs 375 crore to Indian Potash, a government-owned fertiliser company?

29. Which company is set to acquire 100% shareholding of Walker Forge Tennessee LLC (WFT) through its US subsidiary?

30. In the first case of an American automaker using India as the sole sourcing base for an individual model, Ford Motor Co in the US will import which model from India from 2018?

31. Which subsidiary of China's internet giant Alibaba recently reached the 100-million monthly active user mark in India for its flagship product?

32. Which Hong Kong conglomerate will acquire Coca-Cola bottling assets in China for 5.87 billion yuan ($852 million)?

33. Which MNC has bought facial recognition startup FacioMetrics?

34. Bajaj Auto last week rolled out the first batch of their much awaited super premium 400 cc bike from the Chakan plant. What was special about the assembly line?

35. Which mobile app has launched two TV commercials for its campaign #LookBeforeYouLeave?

36. Which tourism board has launched the campaign 'Nature wants you back'?

37. Which Indian company has announced a strategic partnership with leading Russian distribution and production company Central Partnership (CP)?

38. Which company that provides taxi-hailing services launched its operations in Bengaluru last week?

39. Which premium German brand has launched luxury leather handbags on Myntra?

40. Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) has made the Indian manufacturing facility at Pune among one of the four facilities globally to make which model?

Please mail your answers on or before next Sunday to rajeevkondapalli@gmail.com with Biz Quizzard 660 as the subject. Answers will be mailed to those who attempt the current edition within the given time.

Happy learning!

rajeev kondapalli

Biz Quizzard 659

Presenting the current affairs quiz for the period November 07 - 12. Hope you enjoy it.

1. The boards of which two companies have decided to merge the two entities, a move that will create the fourth-largest cement maker in the country?

2. Which IT firm in India has said it will sell its Berlin-based subsidiary to ANSYS?

3. Which MNC has launched the campaign “We know, great is in the detail” to increase engagement with Hero Indian Super League (ISL) fans?

4. Richard Rekhy has decided to retire as the India CEO of which professional services firm?

5. Actor Sidharth Malhotra is featured in the television commercial (current on air) of which hair care brand?

6. Which beverage brand has launched the digital ad film 'Sun in a Bottle'?

7. Which watch brand has launched the television commercial titled ‘My time’?

8. Which MNC has appointed Tejinder Gill as Vice President of sales and head of India operations?

9. Which MNC has appointed Dinesh Verma to the role of Managing Director, India and SAARC with immediate effect?

10. Which company has agreed to buy the retail business arm of Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu-founded Heritage Foods in a stock deal?

11. Which UK-based insurance major has filed an application to set up operations in Mumbai and expects to commence operations from 2017?

12. Which IT firm’s wholly-owned subsidiary has signed a definitive agreement to acquire 100% shares of UK-based Blom Aerofilms Ltd?

13. Which eye care brand has launched the campaign ‘Don’t be a spectator!’?

14. Which company is entering into the video-on-demand space with its new over-the-top (OTT) mobile application Chillx?

15. Hindi news channel IBN7 is being rebranded. What is the new brand?

16. Which Indian firm will make unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), also known as drones, in a joint venture with Israeli firm Elbit Systems?

17. Which Hyderabad-based company is set to acquire 95 per cent of Salion SE, an asset management company based out of Berlin?

18. Which MNC is celebrating its 20 years in India with the campaign 'A lot has changed. Nothing has changed'?

19. Which handset brand has launched two new commercials under it’s 'Never Lets You Down’ campaign, featuring MS Dhoni and Prateik Babbar?

20. The government declared existing currency notes of which two denominations to be void from November 9?

21. Radio Mantra, the private FM radio station cluster run by the promoters of Jagaran Prakashan, will be merged into and rebranded as which radio network by the end of this quarter?

22. Which brand has launched the campaign 'It's That Simple' for its new app?

23. Suneel Advani will be the new chairman of which company from December 1?

24. Which business group has announced its entry into the Indian mutual fund business by acquiring Peerless Mutual Fund?

25. India's first banking robot made its debut on November 10. Which bank?

26. Which automobile brand has been introduced through a carpool karaoke video, featuring the cast of Rock On 2?

27. Which performance marketing technology company has announced the acquisition of HookLogic?

28. Which company has become the first commercial vehicle (CV) manufacturer from outside Japan to have won the Deming Prize?

29. Which company has acquired Delhi-based Shopsity in a bid to strengthen its offline retail network?

30. Which two companies have decided to merge operations to form the single largest pay TV operator in the world with 27.6 million net subscribers?

31. Myntra is all set to open its first brick-and-mortar store later this year. Which city?

32. Kotak Mahindra Bank has received RBI approval for its maiden international branch. Which location?

33. Which agrochemicals company has launched a television commercial for its fungicide brand Bavistin?

34. Which ceramic and vitrified tiles manufacturer has roped in Akshay Kumar as brand ambassador?

35. Which business group has elevated Pawan Goenka as group MD?

Please mail your answers on or before next Sunday to rajeevkondapalli@gmail.com with Biz Quizzard 659 as the subject. Answers will be mailed to those who attempt the current edition within the given time.

Happy learning!

rajeev kondapalli

Biz Quizzard 658

Presenting the current affairs quiz for the period October 31 - November 05. Hope you enjoy it.

1. Which two states have tied for first place in the ease of doing business ranking this year, unveiled by the Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion (DIPP)?

2. Which MNC has said it would merge its oil and gas business with No. 3 oilfield services provider Baker Hughes Inc?

3. Which apparel brand has launched a film titled 'Life After' as part of its Breast Cancer Awareness Month campaign #UnitedByHer?

4. Which US hospital staffing provider has agreed to be bought by private equity firm Blackstone Group in a deal valued at about $6.1 billion?

5. Which tech start-up has launched Geckolyst, a product that analyses customer feedback to provide comprehensible information to enterprises?

6. Which MNC has signed a deal to work directly with Ford Motor Co to expand the car maker's use of its QNX secure operating system?

7. Which company has entered into an agreement with South Africa's CTL Group of Companies to acquire the latter's personal care, hair care and creams businesses for ZAR 18.8 million ($1.5 million)?

8. Rishi Jaitly has quit as the India head of which MNC?

9. Which British fashion house is marking its 160th anniversary this year with a video about its founder, directed by Asif Kapadia?

10. Which brand has released its digital film #GiveWayGiveLife, urging people to give way to ambulances?

11. Which ethnic wear brand has launched the campaign 'Pehno Apni Pehchaan'?

12. Which brand has released a video ‘Ek Muthi Sonu ke Naam’ to urge people to pause and spare a thought to the millions of children who go hungry?

13. Which smartphone brand has launched the ad ‘Get Fast, Get Forward’?

14. Which IT firm has appointed John Owen as its Group Chief Executive Officer with effect from November 1, 2016?

15. Which IT company has acquired UK-based digital agency Foolproof?

16. Microsoft Corp last week launched a messaging system for businesses. What has it been branded as?

17. Who has topped Forbes’ 2016 list of highest paid women in music?

18. Which portal has launched a campaign titled ‘Resale ka MRP’ to establish its Orange Book Value (OBV) as a defacto industry standard for pricing of used automobiles?

19. Punjabi singer-actor Gurdas Maan has partnered with which Delhi-based company to launch a restaurant brand The Studio - by Gurdas Maan?

20. The Goods and Services Tax Council has opted for how many tiered rate structure?

21. Which company is promoting Ayurveda amongst the young professionals with AyurMedha scholarship?

22. Which Indian company has inked a pact with Indonesia’s state-owned enterprise PT Pindad to explore market potential of armoured vehicles in Indonesia and other agreed regions of Asean?

23. Which skincare brand has launched a television commercial with Bharti Singh of Comedy Nights Bachao fame as brand ambassador?

24. Which company has forayed into the luxury chocolate segment in the country with the launch of Friberg, a super-premium chocolate brand imported from Belgium and Switzerland?

25. Which brand has topped India's Most Attractive Brands 2016 study, carried out by Trust Research Advisory (TRA)?

26. Switzerland Tourism has roped in which actor as its brand ambassador in India?

27. Which company has signed an exclusive deal to sell British high street brand Ted Baker in India?

28. Shyamal Mukherjee has been elected the new India Chairman of which professional services firm for a 4-year term?

29. In the largest single deal in the retail real estate sector in India, which Dutch entity and Virtuous Retail (VR) have acquired an initial portfolio of 3 retail assets for Rs 2000 crore?

30. Which company has been ranked as the most attractive internet brand in the country, according to India's Most Attractive Brands Study 2016 by TRA?

31. Which Chinese conglomerate is buying the maker of the Golden Globes awards show, US television rights owner Dick Clark Productions, for approximately $1 billion?

32. India will house which healthcare major’s one of six innovation hubs and would feed pharmaceutical product launches in 30 countries?

33. Which cross channel marketing attribution software provider has acquired Refined Labs, a leading German attribution and customer journey analytics provider?

34. Which sports brand has unveiled its first brand campaign "Discover The Joy Of Sport, Together"?

35. Who has become the first woman to be named Chairperson of the World Federation of Exchanges (WFE), a global industry association for Exchanges and clearing houses?

Please mail your answers on or before next Sunday to rajeevkondapalli@gmail.com with Biz Quizzard 658 as the subject. Answers will be mailed to those who answer the current edition within the given time.

Happy learning!

rajeev kondapalli