Biz Quizzard 718

Veteran adman Anvar Alikhan passed away last week after a lung infection. He was 66 and on the verge of retiring from his post as senior VP and strategy consultant at JWT Mindset. He was also a well known business quizzer. May his soul rest in peace.

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

1. What percentage of the total population paid income tax in the assessment year (AY) 2015-16, according to data released by the I-T department?

2. Which business group is selling its 120-store cellphone retail chain Hotspot for an undisclosed amount in a private equity-supported management buyout by its executive director, Subhasish Mohanty?

3. Which dish has topped the list of the top five most ordered items of 2017, according to a survey by online food ordering and delivery platform Swiggy?

4. British toy retailer Hamleys opened its largest store in the world on December 23, 2017. Which city?

5. Which brand has rolled out its digital campaign titled “Taste That Grabs You”?

6. Which snack foods company has entered the sweet snacks market with its new brand ‘Rich Feast’?

7. BigBasket has crossed which milestone sales mark in FY17?

8. Which company last week launched its packaged fruit-based mocktails in a ready-to-drink format, claiming it to be the first ever ready-to-drink mocktail in India?

9. Which brand has launched a new watch collection, ‘Loopholes’, which specifically highlights the perforations on the straps?

10. Which city has become the first Indian city to get a logo of its own and get into the league of cities like London and New York?

11. Digital financial services platform Paytm has crossed which app downloads milestone on the Google Play Store?

12. Which company has acquired controlling stake in Avan-Strate, a Japanese manufacturer of LCD glass substrate, with an investment of $158 million?

13. Which brand has launched its first TVC, ‘Let Your Sound be Seen’, in India?

14. Which company has inked a definitive agreement to acquire specified wireless assets of Reliance Communications (RCom) and its affiliates in an all-cash deal?

15. Which MNC has received approval from the Reserve Bank of India to start the first foreign-owned asset reconstruction company (ARC) in India?

16. Which cryptocurrency dealer last week announced the launch of India’s first bitcoin trading app?

17. Arrow Electronics, a US-based Fortune 500 company, is acquiring which product engineering and software R&D services company for more than Rs 1,500 crore?

18. Which retail aggregator has announced the acquisition of Mystores, a chain of rural branded retail stores, adding offline physical presence to its network?

19. Which Coimbatore-headquartered company has unveiled a new brand identity and logo for the ‘Micro Cotton’ brand of home textile products?

20. Which city will be Indigo’s 50th destination on its route network effective March 2, 2018?

Please mail your answers on or before next Sunday to rajeevkondapalli@gmail.com with Biz Quizzard 718 as the subject. Answers will be mailed to those attempt the current edition within the given time.

Happy learning!

rajeev kondapalli

Biz Quizzard 717

Presenting the current affairs quiz for the period December 18 - 23. Hope you enjoy it.

1. Domestic flyer tally in a year has crossed which milestone mark for the first time in India?

2. Which FMCG firm has acquired an 80% stake in Positive Food Ventures’ ice tea brand Brewhouse?

3. Sanjay Kaul has quit as the India head of which MNC?

4. Sashi Kumar will step down as the chief executive officer and managing director of which IT firm in January next year?

5. Infosys BPO, the business process outsourcing wing of IT major Infosys, has been renamed. What is the new name?

6. Which MNC has merged its South Asia market operations with Middle East and North Africa, while naming its India head Sanjeev Mohanty to spearhead the consolidated business?

7. Which retail major has appointed Rajiv Suri as the Chief Executive Officer of the company with effect from January 9, 2018?

8. Ogilvy India has launched a new consultancy division in India. What is it called?

9. Which condom brand has launched a campaign with the positioning 'Bano man of the match'? (please answer this question only between 10 pm and 6 am :))

10. Who has replaced Shah Rukh Khan as India’s top-ranking celebrity brand, according to premier global valuation and corporate finance advisor Duff & Phelps’ 2017 report?

11. Unilever Ventures, the venture capital and private equity arm of Unilever, has made its first investment in India, in which consumer sector based SaaS and big data analytics company?

12. Which MNC will buy SkinnyPop popcorn maker Amplify Snack Brands in a deal valued at $1.6 billion, including debt, to gain a firmer footing in the fast-growing market for healthy snacks?

13. Which cosmetics brand has launched the digital campaign #SparkleEveryday?

14. Which entity is buying the world’s largest sea plane fleet operator, Trans Maldivian Airways, from Blackstone for around $550 million (Rs 3,525 crore)?

15. Which company has acquired House of God, the leading provider of spiritual content on mobile?

16. Xiaomi India is going to exceed which milestone revenue mark this calendar year?

17. Which company is set to launch a smartphone in January under the brand name Tenor?

18. Which company has signed an agreement with Millicom International Cellular S.A. to acquire 100% stake in its Rwanda operation, which operates under the brand name of Tigo Rwanda?

19. Which company last week announced a deal to buy Foodpanda's Indian business from its Germany-based parent firm, Delivery Hero Group, in an all-stock deal?

20. Which automobile company has become the world’s most expensive one in terms of price to earnings (P/E) multiple, overtaking Italian sports carmaker Ferrari?

21. Which Germany-based chemical distributor has picked up a majority stake in Raj Petro Specialities as part of expanding its footprint in the country?

22. Which company has regained the top spot as the country’s largest snack company after more than two decades, surpassing PepsiCo in sales?

23. Which company is set to acquire Murli Industries, a Nagpur-based cement manufacturer referred to the bankruptcy court?

24. Which company has announced the acquisition of Religare’s securities business by its wealth management arm for an undisclosed sum?

25. Which Hyderabad-based global OEM and IoT brand has acquired close to 70% stake in Hyderabad-based IoT startup MiQasa?

26. Which company’s wholly owned subsidiary has entered into definitive agreements for acquisition of controlling stake in Trinity Pharma Proprietary Ltd, South Africa, for Rs 27.5 crore?

27. Which personal care brand has extended its partnership with Real Madrid to India?

28. Havells India last week announced its foray in which segment?

29. HDFC has sold its realty brokerage business HDFC Realty and its digital real estate business HDFC Developers, which owns HDFC RED, to which company in an all stock deal?

30. According to a report last week, how many individuals in the country reported an annual salary income above Rs 100 crore in FY15 (assessment year 2015-16)?

31. Which company has signed a definitive agreement to acquire Anil Ambani’s Reliance Infrastructure’s power generation and distribution business in Mumbai for Rs 13,251 crore?

32. Which private equity firm will buy out JEKPL Pvt Ltd, becoming the first bankruptcy case to close after the government recently barred promoters from bidding for their companies?

33. Who has topped the sixth Forbes India Celebrity 100 List?

34. Which company will acquire the bio-pesticides business of E.I.D. Parry (India) Ltd together with its wholly-owned subsidiary Parry America, Inc, US, through a slump sale?

35. Eric Schmidt is stepping down as Executive Chairman of which MNC?

36. The total market capitalisation (m-cap) of BSE-listed companies touched which milestone mark on December 22?

37. Who has become the first Indian actor to endorse MasterCard?

38. Reliance Industries has partnered with which company to co-brand its exclusive denim collection Mast & Harbour with the flagship product from the former, RElan FeelFresh?

39. Which brand has launched a television commercial 'Bhai Ke Biceps', timed with the release of Salman Khan and Katrina Kaif starrer ‘Tiger Zinda Hai’?

40. IndiGo last week touched which cumulative passenger milestone mark?

41. Mondelez India has launched a premium variant of Cadbury 5Star. What has it been branded as?

42. On the occasion of Human Rights Day, which brand promoted food security with its new brand campaign #NoKhaaliPet?

43. Real estate consultancy firm Mini Homes has signed on which celebrity as brand ambassador?

44. Which construction company has rolled out a campaign with the tagline ‘Behtar Parvarish Ka Pata’ to promote its project in NCR region?

45. Indigo has become the first airliner in the country to operate which number of flights a day milestone?

Please mail your answers on or before next Sunday to rajeevkondapalli@gmail.com with Biz Quizzard 717 as the subject. Answers will be mailed to those who attempt the current edition within the given time.

Happy learning!
rajeev kondapalli

Biz Quizzard 716

Presenting the current affairs quiz for the period December 11 - 16. Hope you enjoy it.

1. Which company has launched Safety Grip, a scooter handle grip containing pepper spray, to make women scooter riders more confident and safer on Indian roads?

2. Which health and hygiene brand has launched its new campaign ‘Bharosa Maa Sa’?

3. Which bank has purchased the 51% stake held by foreign partner Pioneer Investments in their joint venture asset management company?

4. Which online pharmacy has launched a campaign with the tagline ‘Obsessed with health’?

5. Coca-Cola India has announced the launch of a new variant of its popular mango based drink Maaza. What has it been branded as?

6. Which celebrity has been roped in as the face of Sikkim tourism?

7. Heavy vehicles manufacturer Ashok Leyland has opened its West African headquarters in which city / country?

8. Which MNC has reserved 100 of Tesla Inc's new electric Semi trucks, the largest-known order of the big rig?

9. For the first time in the country, which state has readied a centrally-run, server-based GST-enabled e-ticketing mechanism for movie houses?

10. Who will soon become the first Asians to receive the Lion of St. Mark, the highest honour that the Cannes International Festival of Creativity bestows on creative geniuses within the communications industry?

11. Which company has launched a campaign titled 'The Marathon of Life' to educate the masses about the similarities between running a marathon and being a good investor?

12. FreshLook has roped in which actress as its new brand ambassador?

13. Which beverage brand has launched a 3-minute-long film called 'For the Tea Society called India'?

14. Which Pune-based digital gaming firm has launched a teaser ad for its cricket game called “Sachin Saga”?

15. Which Silicon Valley-based payments company has started an invite-only private beta in India?

16. Billionaire property developer Jitu Virwani, promoter of the country’s largest business parks owner Embassy Group, has acquired controlling interest in which Mumbai-based F&B company?

17. Which food ordering and delivery platform has acqui-hired Bengaluru-based gourmet Asian food start-up 48East, founded by food industry veterans Joseph Cherian and Nabhojit Ghosh?

18. Which brand has launched a new campaign with the question 'Why Embarrass Yourself with Cheap Ply?'?

19. The RP-Sanjiv Goenka Group has roped in which celebrity as the brand ambassador for its packaged snacking brand, Too Yumm?

20. Which MNC has struck a deal to buy film, television and international businesses from Rupert Murdoch’s Twenty-First Century Fox Inc for $52.4 billion in stock?

21. Which MNC’s investment arm L Catterton Asia has acquired majority stake in restaurateur Riyaaz Amlani’s Impresario Entertainment & Hospitality?

22. India’s latest cricketing sensation and current captain of India’s U-19 team for ICC U-19 World Cup Prithvi Shaw has signed a multiyear bat sponsorship deal with which brand?

23. Which company last week showcased its new RR 450 rally bike for the first-time in India?

24. Which cement brand has launched a campaign with the positioning "Kan kan mein majbooti Rajasthan ki”?

25. Which oil and gas company has elevated Sudhir Mathur as CEO?

26. Which state has entered into an agreement with the moonshot factory of Alphabet (earlier Google) – X to bring the breakthrough Free Space Optical Communication (FSOC) technology to the state?

27. State Bank of India (SBI) and which business group have acquired GE Capital Group’s (GE Capital) stake in SBI Card?

28. Ola last week launched ‘Chalo Befikar’ insurance programme for driver-partners in association with which insurance company?

29. Which pharma company has elevated N Rajaram as the managing director, effective January 1?

30. Which business group, in a consortium with Megawide Construction Corporation, has won a contract to construct and operate Clark Airport in the Philippines?

Please mail your answers on or before next Sunday to rajeevkondapalli@gmail.com with Biz Quizzard 716 as the subject. Answers will be mailed to those who attempt the current edition within the given time.

Happy learning!

rajeev kondapalli

Biz Quizzard 715

Presenting the current affairs quiz for the period December 04 - 09. Hope you enjoy it.

1. Which MNC has invested in Bangalore-based daily tasks management app Dunzo, its first direct investment in India?

2. Which company last week said it has acquired a “strategic” stake in Juggernaut Books, a digital platform for amateur writers?

3. State Bank of India will “redesign” its envelopes used to dispatch tax refund cheques of customers. Why?

4. Which company has entered the premium furniture segment with the brand, Script?

5. Which shampoo brand has rolled out a digital campaign, ‘Say It Right’?

6. Which sauces, dressings and dips brand has launched its first national marketing campaign ‘Aaj kya khaoge’?

7. Which company last week launched instant coffee brand "Levista"?

8. Samsung India last week forayed into which new category?

9. Which life insurance company has roped in actor Irrfan Khan as its brand ambassador and has launched the campaign ‘Unyakeenable plan'?

10. Which bank has launched ‘Noor’, a non-interest bearing savings account targeting those whose beliefs do not permit them to accept interest payments?

11. US drugstore chain operator CVS Health Corp has agreed to acquire which US health insurer for $69 billion?

12. Which company is acquiring Timex Group Precision Engineering, a manufacturing subsidiary of Timex Nederland BV, for an undisclosed amount?

13. Which MNC has launched its new brand campaign ‘Reimagine India’?

14. Which detergent brand has launched its new television commercial ‘Haar Ko Harao’?

15. Which Indian CEO has been named the UN Environment's 'Patron for Clean Air'?

16. Which Hyderabad-based Indian fast food chain and UK's FoodAdvisr last week announced a partnership and said they will jointly invest two million Pounds over the next 24 months?

17. Music app Gaana has crossed which monthly active users milestone?

18. Which MNC has elevated Uday Shankar as president of its Asia unit?

19. New York-headquartered Och-Ziff Capital Management has sold its majority stake in which Gurgaon-based real estate-focused research, data and analytics firm to the company’s CEO?

20. The Indian arm of Pernod Ricard, the world’s second largest spirits maker, has been given the controlling rights to build global markets for which three brands?

21. Which spices brand has launched a nation-wide campaign with the positioning ‘Mazza aagaya’?

22. Which company has announced the appointment of Navneet Saluja as managing director with effect from January 1, 2018?

23. Vijay Kumar is set to become MD and CEO of which agri-futures bourse?

24. Facebook co-founder Eduardo Saverin’s tech fund B Capital is investing $11 million in which Mumbai-based payments company?

25. Which company has merged daily-deal sites Little, where it is the largest shareholder, and Nearbuy (earlier Groupon India) to form the largest player in the space?

26. Which brand has launched the third phase of #LookBeforeYouLeave campaign?

27. Poker Sports League (PSL) has roped in which sports celebrity as brand ambassador?

28. Which MNC will acquire Cmpute.io, a privately-held company in Bengaluru, for an undisclosed amount as it looks to beef up its cloud offerings?

29. Which company has inked a definitive agreement to acquire controlling stake in Creative Cycles (Private) Limited and Great Cycles (Private) Limited of Sri Lanka?

30. Starbucks opened its largest cafe in the world last week. Which city?

31. Which media agency has promoted its COO Harish Shriyan as CEO?

32. Sanitaryware brand Kerovit has appointed which celebrity as its brand ambassador?

33. Which deodorant brand has partnered with the bestselling romance author Durjoy Dutta for a digital campaign titled “Pocketful O’ Stories”?

34. Forever 21, the international fast fashion brand from Los Angeles, California, and part of Aditya Birla Fashion and Retail Ltd, last week launched its 21st store in India. Which city?

35. Which global eyewear brand has launched the campaign #VisionOfLove in India?

36. Which payments bank has rolled out its new campaign with the positioning 'Qadar Aapki Mehnat Ki'?

37. The centre last week took over control of which builder?

38. Which health insurance company has roped in Farhan Akhtar as brand ambassador?

39. Which online supermarket has joined hands with Simpl and launched 'Postpaid Grocery Shopping' in its industry-first initiative?

40. Which company has acquired a newly incorporated company, Dreketi SA, in Uruguay, to expand marketing of its petroleum and petrochemical products?

Please mail your answers on or before next Sunday to rajeevkondapalli@gmail.com with Biz Quizzard 715 as the subject. Answers will be mailed to those who attempt the current edition within the given time.

Happy learning!

rajeev kondapalli

Biz Quizzard 714

Presenting the current affairs quiz for the period November 27 - December 02. Hope you enjoy it.

1. American clothing giant Philip Van Heusen Corporation (PVH) plans to consolidate its two Indian joint ventures running which two brands?

2. Which adult diaper brand has launched a television commercial with the positioning 'Wahi masti, phir se.'?

3. Which actress has been roped in as brand ambassador for Women’s Horlicks?

4. The Meredith Corporation, the owner of Family Circle, Better Homes and Gardens and AllRecipes, has agreed to purchase which publisher in an all-cash transaction valued at $2.8 billion?

5. Hyundai India last week touched which cumulative production milestone?

6. Iodex has launched the campaign 'Thodi Himmat, Thoda Iodex' featuring which actress?

7. Pradeep Singh Kharola has been appointed as the Chairman and Managing Director (CMD) of which public sector entity?

8. Publicis Communications is merging which in-house technology-enabled experiential arm with the global brand activation and experiential shopper agency, Arc Worldwide?

9. Amazon India last week announced the launch of an exclusive selling and awareness programme for women entrepreneurs across the country. What is it called?

10. Which CEO of an Indian company is the only one from the country on Fortune’s ‘Businessperson of the Year’ list?

11. The Centre has appointed senior IAS officer BN Sharma as the first Chairman of which entity related to Goods and Services Tax (GST)?

12. Which company has created a wholly-owned subsidiary Canvin Real Estate Private Limited to enter real estate business?

13. Which mattress brand has launched the #ReadyForTomorrow digital campaign?

14. Which MNC is to buy U.S.-based company Sundial Brands, a maker of hair and skincare products, expanding deeper into the fast-growing personal care products market?

15. PepsiCo India has launched a fizzy drink containing orange fruit juice sourced from Indian farmers. What has it been branded as?

16. Asian Paints has launched the campaign #SlamDoorsNoMore for which brand?

17. A company called Ocare has applied for a licence to float which kind of insurance company in India?

18. Which MNC has agreed to sell a controlling stake in the US headquartered, India-focused Aricent to France’s Altran Technologies for a total enterprise value of $2 billion in an all-cash transaction?

19. Which edu-tech firm has acquired Acadgild, which offers high-end tech skills to mid-career IT professionals?

20. John Chambers, executive chairman of Cisco Systems, has invested in which speech technology company in his individual capacity?

21. Bennett University and which MNC last week announced a partnership to establish a Center of Excellence (CoE) for artificial intelligence?

22. Which company has acquired the Digeplex and associated brands from Shreya Lifesciences for an undisclosed sum to expand its consumer products business?

23. Which MNC has appointed ex-Army chief VP Malik as the chairman of the India Advisory Board (IAB)?

24. Ronnie Screwvala, the former UTV boss who sold his entertainment business to Walt Disney, is back in the game with his new film studio. What is it called?

25. Which automobile MNC has begun international arbitration against India to seek more than $770 million in a dispute over unpaid state incentives?

26. Which business personality has acquired a 16.7% stake in Bayside Sports, a multi-sports training and sports event management company, in his personal capacity for an undisclosed amount?

27. Ola is getting into the bicycle-sharing space. What has the initiative been branded as?

28. Which MNC has launched Blendy, a brand of pre-mix tea and coffee in Tamil Nadu and Bengaluru?

29. The FC Goa team, one of the teams in the Indian Super League football tournament, announced its association with which brewery brand?

30. Which company has appointed Salil S. Parekh as the Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director of the company effective January 2, 2018?

Please mail your answers on or before next Sunday to rajeevkondapalli@gmail.com with Biz Quizzard 714 as the subject. Answers will be mailed to those who attempt the current edition within the given time.

Happy learning!

rajeev kondapalli