External Commercial Borrowings (ECB) from the foreign equity holders

ECB liability-equity ratio now measures proposed and outstanding ECB against broadened equity for lender eligibility under ECB rules.

The metric for assessing ECBs from foreign equity holders is revised: the ECB liability-equity ratio replaces the debt-equity concept, counting proposed plus outstanding ECB from the same foreign equity lender as liabilities, and treating equity as paid-up capital together with free reserves and foreign currency share premium per the latest audited balance sheet (with lender-specific share premium considered where multiple foreign equity holders exist). Approval-route permissions are extended to additional service sector units, indirect equity holders meeting a controlling threshold, and group companies where borrower and lender share a parent, subject to aggregate ECB limits relative to equity.