Mumbai: FINO PayTech Limited, the company that enables financial inclusion, has launched its first ever television commercial. The commercial, which is on air at present, talks of how the company has brought the benefits of access to banking services to the doorsteps of the poor. This has been done through an animation film which uses characters like FINO Man, Kanhaiya and Bandhu, whom one can relate to easily. The essence of the commercial is its simplicity.

?As the pioneers in the space of financial inclusion, it is has been an eventful journey so far for FINO PayTech. As we push for greater inclusive growth, we believe it is important for all the stakeholders to know what is happening and what is possible in this space. The story we are trying to communicate is not merely about a product or a company. It actually tells you about the ills of informal credit channels prevalent across the country to the advantages of access to formal banking services that can change the financial landscape in rural and unbanked India. The FINO bandhu is not merely an agent of the company but a catalyst for social change,? said Ms. Shweta Aprameya, Vice President, FINO PayTech Limited.

The audio visual commercial, titled FINO ki Kahani Kanhaiya ki zubaani, has been created by Climb Media.

Kireet Khurana, Creative producer of Climb Media said, "The fascinating success story of FINO PayTech and its impact on the entire country is something that was entreating to be told. We are happy and privileged to have been given this opportunity to weave an emotionally connecting story with FINO‘s empowering cause and achievements in the financial inclusion domain, bringing it to the fore. Animation has been created in a way to convey the message in a simple yet effective manner."

The commercial is on air from April 23 to May 5, 2013 and will be telecast across TV channels such as CNBC-TV 18, NDTV 24x7, Aaj Tak, Dilli Aaj Tak and Tez.

FINO PayTech enables sourcing, acquiring and servicing of micro customers at their doorstep. The model is built to offer bouquet of products to clients and their customers at affordable prices across channels as compared to traditional infrastructure based delivery models. It has a comprehensive product suite ranging from savings bank accounts, loan products, recurring deposits, remittances, insurance products, government disbursements etc. The advantage of FINO PayTech solutions is that of a complete package - end to end technology and Business Correspondent services. These solutions enable seamless delivery at scale through secure transaction mechanisms that reinforce trust and enhance user experience.

FINO PayTech solutions are anchored around using biometric smart card and hand-held devices known as POT (point of transaction) machines for field operations and biometric authentication. The widely reported Government welfare scheme payments through Unique Identification Project ? Aadhaar ? linked bank accounts is made possible through FINO PayTech technology expertise and Business Correspondent network. Since its inception in 2006, the company has built a customer base of 61 million people with 45000 service points and a presence in 460 cities across India.

New Delhi: The NDTV ?Indian of the Year? Awards are held annually to recognise Indians whose contribution to the country have strengthened the foundation of our society and helped build Brand India.

Celebrating their Silver Jubilee NDTV today announced the winners of their sixth edition of ?Indians of the Year? awards at a grand ceremony with the Hon?ble Prime Minister, Shri Manmohan Singh as Chief Guest; Guest of Honour Smt Sushma Swaraj, Leader of the Opposition. Also present were Chief Ministers Sheila Dikshit, Omar Abdullah and Dr Mukul Sangma; Guests of Honour BJP President Shri Rajnath Singh, External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid, I&B Minister Manish Tiwari, Minister in the PMO Shri Narayanswamy, Minister of State for Home Affairs Shri RPN Singh; Justices JS Verma and Leila Seth, film stars Kareena Kapoor, Sridevi and Farhan Akhtar; Olympians Gagan Narang and Yogeshwar Dutt and the ?unsung heroes? like IAS officer Rajni Sekhri Sibal and the ?braveheart? of India?s family; Sukanya Shankar wife of Late Pandit Ravi Shankar and the late Yash Chopra?s wife Pamela, along with MPs Ravi Shankar Prasad, NK Singh and D Raja among other well known personalities from all walks of life.

Congratulating NDTV on turning 25 this year, Dr Mannohan Singh, Prime Minister and Chief Guest said, " The period of 25 years that NDTV has been in business is also broadly the period of economic reforms in our country. I am also very happy that NDTV has taken up many campaigns on vital issues such as education, health and environment. I hope to see many more channels put in such efforts. ".

The eminent awardees were:

1. Daughter of India - Nirbhaya

2. Justice for the Indian woman - Justice J.S Verma the JS Verma Committee: Justice Leila Seth and Gopal Subramaniam

3. Lifestyle Achievement Awards - Late Yash Raj Chopra, Late Pandit Ravi Shankar and Dr. C Pratap Reddy, Founder Chairperson, Apollo Hospital Group

4. Sportspersons of the year - Gagan Narang and Yogeshwar Dutt

5. Business Leader of the year - N Chandrashekaran, Tata Consulting Services

6. Entertainer of the year - Sridevi

7. Entertainer of the decade -Kareena Kapoor

8. LIC Unsung Hero - Rajni Sekhri Sibal

MUMBAI: Winning a Gold medal for the iPad App, Silver medal for the Best Social Media Strategy and Bronze medal for the Best News Website in Asia NEW DELHI: NDTV bagged three prestigious medals at the Asian Digital Media Awards held in Kuala Lampur recently. India?s leading broadcaster won Gold for its iPad App, Silver medal for the Best Social Media Strategy and Bronze medal for the Best News Website in Asia ( www.ndtv.com).

Held by the World Association of Newspapers and News Publishers (WAN-IFRA), the Asian Digital Media Awards celebrate the work of news designers, journalists and infographics experts from all across the continent.

Elated with the win, Vikram Chandra, Group CEO, NDTV said, ?Creation of world class apps across genres - News, Sports, Food etc and platforms - iOS, Android, Windows - is an increasingly important part of NDTV?s overall strategy. The recognition by the most important digital awards in Asia helps us feel that we are on the right track.?

More than 50 media companies from 16 countries across Asia and the Middle East participated in this competition.

MUMBAI : NDTV organises a series of campaigns in education and sports in addition to significant campaigns on the environment and its protection. In continuation of this role to raise awareness on national issues, NDTV is now launching an initiative to support University Cricket and Hockey in association with the AIU (Association of Indian Universities).

AIU and NDTV together will aim to revitalize and restore University Cricket and Hockey. The purpose is to ensure widespread participation of University students in sports and to raise standards of fitness. The Minister of HRD, Mr. Kapil Sibal will chair an organising committee to promote sports in universities which will organise national level tournaments in Cricket and Hockey.

Commenting on this development, the Minister for HRD, Mr. Kapil Sibal said ?Universities are the repositories of both academic and sporting talent in our country and we are proud of them. It is crucial for all of us to work towards nurturing sports talent and raising the bar of university sports. This is a great start with hockey and cricket?.

On partnering AIU for this initiative, Dr. Prannoy Roy, Co-Chairperson, NDTV said ?NDTV?s focus on education and fitness related campaigns has been very successful and fulfilling. We look forward to carrying this further by supporting university sports?.

University sports have played a key role in nurturing and promoting extraordinary sporting talent in several countries which excel in sports at a global level. A national level university league tournament in India will offer a great platform for outstanding college sportsmen and revive the spirit of education with sports.

MUMBAI: Issues of national importance, from corruption, bribery and Naxalism, to the country?s take on the best Chief Minister, the greatest Indian leaders of all times, whether Rahul Gandhi would be the best Congress Prime Minister and whether Priyanka should enter politics; family related matters, inter-caste marriage, dowry, gender equality and many more have been discussed and answered on NDTV?s Mid Term Poll Special programmes this week..

But the burning question still remains If India had to vote now, who would win ? UPA or the NDA?

Get the answer to this and more at 9:00pm tonight when Prannoy Roy, Dorab Sopariwala and a panel of experts discuss the FINAL RESULT

Watch the NDTV MID TERM POLL results Special at 9:00pm LIVE TONIGHT on NDTV24x7

MUMBAI: NDTV brings you a massive opinion poll in a special show with Dr Prannoy Roy, every day LIVE at 9pm from Monday 27 August to Friday 31 August.

The programme will gauge the voting intentions of the nation and seek views on political and social issues. Who each side should choose for prime minister, can Anna forever change how India fights corruption are some questions people of India have answered.

Each day Dr Prannoy Roy, Dorab Sopariwala and a panel of experts will discuss voting patterns in 3-4 states, and predict seats for each, culminating in an All India forecast on Friday 31st. They will also look at 2-3 national issues including corruption, poverty and unemployment, as well as the best Congress and BJP leader and the Prime Minister?s performance.

The daily programme will include the nation?s pulse on social issues. Where does India stand on arranged marriages and dowry, education for daughters and mobile vs TV? The NDTV Poll will wrap up with an exciting top 5 in categories that include national leaders, Prime Minister and Chief Minister choices, and on a lighter note, actors and actresses.

NDTV commissioned Ipsos, a leading market research agency, to conduct fieldwork for this opinion poll from a sample size of almost 30,000, covering as many as 125 out of the 543 Lok Sabha seats in the 18 big states.

The poll was carried out in 125 constituencies spread over 18 states (these account for over 20% of the 543 Lok Sabha seats). Each Lok Sabha constituency was selected using a statistical formula based on voting patterns of 2009 Lok Sabha Elections. In each Lok Sabha constituency, two to three assembly segments were selected at random where approximately 100 interviews were conducted in homes.

For the voting intention question, the respondents were given a mock ballot paper on which the symbols of the parties were set out. They were asked to mark their preference on the ballot paper and then place the ballot paper in a mock ballot box.

What IS the pulse of the nation? Find out every day at 9pm on NDTV 24x7 and NDTV India from Monday 27 August to Friday 31 August.