Mary Kom has recently (Sept. 2018) been made brand ambassador of which of the following?

The correct answer is B. In September 2018, boxer Mary Kom was named brand ambassador of BSNL, the state-run telecom company, as part of its push to build a stronger consumer connection and sports-linked promotion.

Why the others are wrong:

• A) Swachh Bharat: The Swachh Bharat Mission was launched in 2014 by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs. It has had several celebrity promoters, but Mary Kom's 2018 appointment was not to this mission.
• C) Beti Bachao Beti Padhao: This scheme was launched in 2015 by the Ministry of Women and Child Development and Health. Its promotion has involved many public figures, but it is not the brand the question is testing.
• D) Project Khel: This is not a corporate or government brand that Mary Kom was appointed to represent in 2018, so it fails the basic test of what a brand ambassador is.

The core concept here is the role of celebrities in government and public-sector campaigns, which connects to GS-II governance and the debate on the use of public money for promotions. For Mains, it is a useful example when discussing public sector enterprises and their need to reposition themselves.

Trap: Aspirants often pick the scheme with the most visible celebrity campaigns, such as Swachh Bharat or Beti Bachao Beti Padhao. Check the exact appointment and date, since a sports personality can be attached to a company as well as a government scheme.