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In a bid to accelerate self-employment opportunities, the finance ministry has decided to organise Mudra Promotion Camps across the country beginning September 27 from the Prime Minister's constituency Varanasi. As part of the special drive, 50 camps, including one each in state capitals, will be organised between September 27 and October 17, official sources said. Besides, the camps will facilitate various modes of digital payments enabling users to transact from anywhere and create awareness on various financial inclusion instruments, the sources said. The campaign will help promote not only Mudra loans but spread awareness about digital payment method, financial inclusion and social security schemes, the sources added. It is to be noted that banks have sanctioned Rs 74,601 crore to 1.59 crore beneficiaries across the country since April this year. Since the launch of Mudra Yojana by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in April 2015, banks have disbursed Rs 3.66...

Baahubali  goes digital with Amazon Prime Video's India service. The service has launched the first episode of animated series 'Baahubali: The Lost Legends,' created by SS Rajamouli, Graphic India and Arka Mediaworks. It will have more episodes to follow in the coming weeks. The 2015 live-action blockbuster 'Baahubali: The Beginning,' starring Prabhas, Rana Daggubati, Anushka Shetty and Tamannaah Bhatia, grossed some 100 million dollars worldwide. Its sequel 'Baahubali: The Conclusion' will premiere on April 28 globally. Amazon has also struck a long-term content deal with leading Bengali-language film producer Shree Venkatesh Films. Titles available under the agreement include recent hits 'Khawto,' 'Byomkesh Pawrbo,' 'Gangster,' and 'Zulfiqar.' Library titles include 'Chokher Bali,' 'Saathi,' 'Autograph,' and 'Apur Panchali. Read more

Fast-food   major McDonald's has stepped up its game, launching what it calls "next-generation" restaurants in India, as the pressure to reinvent itself grows in a competitive market. Westlife Development, which runs McDonald's restaurants in the west and south of India, will make available everything from digital kiosks for smooth ordering to digitalmenu display boards, free wi-fi for those wanting to be connected to the Net, gaming zones, and cell phone charging points as consumers increasingly demand convenience at fast-food joints. Westlife will also introduce table service at these "next-generation" stores, in a departure from the principle of self-service that has characterised McDonald's restaurants across the globe. The format, says Amit Jatia, vice-chairman, Westlife Development, was introduced in the US a few months and has subsequently been unveiled in different parts of the world. In India, the first such store was launche...