Foreign investment definitions set the scope for permissible instruments, investor categories, and operational models under FEMA regulations. Regulation 2 provides definitions central to foreign investment and cross border securities transfers, defining core instruments (capital, convertible notes, compulsorily convertible preference shares and debentures, warrants, sweat equity), investor and vehicle categories (Category I AIF, Investment Vehicle, FVCI, RFPI/RFPI/RFPI variants, QFI), entity and corporate forms (Indian company, LLP, Group Company, JV, WOS), and operational concepts (investment on repatriation basis, depository receipts, e commerce models, and a detailed startup definition), together with amendment and notification cross references.