Meat-Free McDonald's: Fast Food Chain To Open Vegetarian Restaurants In India In 2013:

McDonald's, known worldwide as the "standard-bearer of the hamburger," will be opening its first two vegetarian restaurants in India in 2013, BBC reports.

The fast food giant will be setting up the meat-free outlets near the Golden Temple in the Sikh holy city of Amritsar and the small northwestern town of Katra, which is located near the Hindu Vaishno Devi shrine, India's second busiest pilgrimage spot, notes the Financial Times.

The vegetarian outlets are part of an ongoing effort by the fast food chain to increase its popularity in a country that has yet to fully embrace the franchise.

McDonald's has already altered its Indian menu to appeal to the country's large Hindu and Muslim populations, the Telegraph notes.

For instance, McDonald's restaurants in India do not serve beef or pork, instead opting for lamb, chicken, fish and vegetarian options, such as the McAloo Tikki (a deep fried patty of spicy mashed potatoes) and the McSpicy Paneer (a patty of traditional Indian cheese).

About 80 percent of India's population is Hindu, while more than 13 percent are Muslim, according to a 2001 census. For religious reasons, beef is not consumed by Hindus and Islamic dietary laws prohibit the consumption of pork.

The Financial Times reports that McDonald's is planning to "seriously bulk up its menu line-up for its all-green restaurants."

“Since this is going to be an exclusive vegetarian restaurant, we will have to look at opening more products," Maini said.