Business GK Test

The Empowered Committee of State Finance Ministers was responsible for the implementation and coordination of the Value Added Tax (VAT) in India, including setting deadlines.

Tata Motors showcased the Xover concept at the 2005 Geneva Motor Show, which was a significant step in their expansion into crossover vehicles.

In 2005, the Indian government liberalized foreign direct investment (FDI) norms, allowing 100 percent FDI under the automatic route for construction and development projects.

Amara Raja Batteries (often referred to as Amara Batteries) became a significant sponsor for Narain Karthikeyan during his Formula 1 career with the Jordan team.

Swaranjali was the name of the exclusive diamond jewellery collection curated by Lata Mangeshkar in collaboration with the brand Adora.

New Bridge-Vangal was one of the entities that initially expressed interest but later withdrew from the bidding process for the acquisition of Shaw Wallace.

In 2005, the government considered various options for the restructuring of IFCI, with IDBI and PNB being among the institutions shortlisted to potentially take over or assist in its revival.

Paul Rand was a renowned graphic designer who created the iconic IBM logo, which helped define the corporate identity of the company for decades.

David Cote was appointed as the Chairman and CEO of Honeywell International in 2002, leading the company through a significant transformation.

VLCC partnered with the popular television show 'Jassi Jaisi Koi Nahi' to promote their brand and conduct the 'Look of the Year' pageant within the show's narrative.

Sania Mirza signed a high-profile endorsement deal with the Italian sports brand Lotto early in her professional tennis career.

Harry C. Stonecipher was forced to resign as the CEO of Boeing in 2005 due to a violation of the company's code of conduct regarding an extramarital affair.

The European Patent Office revoked a patent on a fungicide derived from Neem, recognizing it as traditional knowledge and not a novel invention.

The Piramal Group launched the True Mart retail chain as part of their strategy to enter the organized retail sector in India.

K.V. Kamath, the former head of ICICI Bank, was involved in mediating the settlement between the Ambani brothers, Mukesh and Anil, during their high-profile family dispute.

Idea Cellular introduced the 'Virtual Pets' feature on their mobile network, allowing users to interact with digital pets as a value-added service.

IndusInd Bank launched the 'International Mahila Card' in 2005, specifically targeting women with various financial benefits and features.

UNIBIC is an Australian company known for its premium biscuits, including the Anzac and Bradman brands, which it manufactures in India.

Kishore Biyani is the founder of the Future Group, which operates major retail chains in India including Big Bazaar, Food Bazaar, and Central.

McDonald's launched several global initiatives to promote healthy living, including menu changes and nutritional information transparency, in response to health concerns.

Next Gen Publishing Ltd was formed as a joint venture between the HDFC Group and the Forbes Group to publish various magazines in India.

Electrolux launched its 'Wo-Managed' (women-managed) stores in Chennai to empower women and provide a unique shopping experience.

Jim Skinner served as the CEO of McDonald's Corporation from 2004 to 2012, overseeing a period of significant growth for the company.

Barista, a prominent coffee chain in India, secured the music launch rights for the film Chai-Pani as part of a marketing collaboration. This was a notable brand association in the mid-2000s.

Birla Sun Life Insurance launched the Bima Kavach Yojna specifically targeting the rural population to provide affordable insurance coverage. Other listed companies had different rural initiatives.

Sania Mirza, the tennis star, was signed as the brand ambassador for Malabar Gold in 2005 to appeal to a younger demographic. This was a significant celebrity endorsement at the time.

IBM historically dominated the server market in India during the mid-2000s, consistently holding the top position in market share reports. Compaq and others were significant competitors but trailed in this specific segment.

Reliance Energy (now Reliance Infrastructure) introduced electricity bills in Braille to improve accessibility for its visually impaired customers. This was a pioneering corporate social responsibility initiative.

Bill Gates, the co-founder of Microsoft, held the position of the world's richest person according to the 2005 Forbes list. This was a long-standing position he held during that era.

Lakshmi Mittal, the steel magnate, gained significant global wealth in the mid-2000s, which led to him overtaking Li Ka-Shing as the richest person in Asia at that time.

India was the first country to launch a 3-in-1 fixed-dose combination AIDS pill specifically formulated for children. This was a major development in global public health.

On April 1, 2005, 20 states in India migrated to the Value Added Tax (VAT) system. This was a landmark reform in the Indian indirect tax structure.

Along with the 20 states, 2 Union Territories also migrated to the VAT system on April 1, 2005. This was part of the unified rollout across the country.

The Kochi port, specifically the Rajiv Gandhi Container Terminal, was handed over to Dubai Ports International (DPI) for management and development in the mid-2000s.

Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL) launched the 'Vehicle Care Centre' concept at its retail outlets to provide value-added services to customers, such as car cleaning and maintenance.

O&M (Ogilvy & Mather) was selected by World Space to handle its creative advertising duties in India, aiming to build brand awareness for satellite radio.

The National Stock Exchange (NSE) of India emerged as a global leader in the single stock futures trading segment, often ranking first in terms of the number of contracts traded.

HAL (Hindustan Aeronautics Limited) assembled the Sukhoi-30 MKI aircraft for the Indian Air Force as part of a technology transfer agreement.

Pepsi launched the 'Oey Bubbly' campaign, which became highly popular in India, featuring a catchy tagline and a focus on the youth market.

In 2010, the SEBI increased the investment limit for retail individual investors in IPOs to Rs. 2 lakh. This was done to encourage broader participation in the stock market.

Lufthansa acquired Swiss International Airlines, integrating it into its group while maintaining the Swiss brand identity. This was a major consolidation in the European airline industry.

Jamshedpur was chosen as the first South Asian city to join the UN Global Compact Cities pilot program, recognizing its efforts in sustainable urban development.

Chola MS General Insurance introduced the 'Accident Protection Plan' with a wide range of coverage options, catering to different risk profiles.

Accor, a French multinational hospitality company, partnered with InterGlobe to launch the Ibis brand in India, focusing on the economy hotel segment.

The long-standing corporate battle for control over Herbertsons Ltd was between Vijay Mallya and his cousin, Kishore Rajaram Chhabria.

Sony made headlines by appointing Sir Howard Stringer, a Welsh-born American, as its CEO, marking the first time a non-Japanese individual held the top position at the company.