The Government reviews the FDI policy on an ongoing basis, to ensure that India remains an attractive & investor friendly destination. In a recent review of the policy government has amended the sectoral caps and/or entry routes in some sectors viz. petroleum & natural gas; commodity exchanges; power exchanges; stock exchanges, depositories and clearing corporations; asset reconstruction companies; credit information companies; tea sector including tea plantations; single brand product retail trading; test marketing; telecom services; courier services and defence.

The review of FDI policy was done with a view to boost investor confidence thereby stimulating FDI inflows and contributing to accelerated economic growth.

The Government had held consultations with concerned Ministries to address the issues raised by them.

Government has put in place an investor-friendly policy on FDI, under which FDI, up to 100%, is permitted, under the automatic route, in most sectors/activities. Significant changes have been made in the FDI policy regime in the recent times, to ensure that India remains increasingly attractive and investor-friendly.

Government plays an active role in the investment in all sectors, including in labour-intensive industries, through dissemination of information on the investment climate and opportunities in India and by advising prospective investors about investment policies and procedures and opportunities. International Cooperation for industrial partnerships is solicited both through bilateral and multilateral arrangements. It also coordinates with apex industry associations, such as FICCI, CII and ASSOCHAM, in their activities relating to promotion of industrial cooperation, both through bilateral and multilateral initiatives intended to stimulate inflow of foreign direct investment into India.

Government has also set up ‘Invest India’, a joint venture company between the Department of Industrial Policy & Promotion and FICCI, as a not-for-profit, single window facilitator, for prospective overseas investors and to act as a structured mechanism to attract investment.

The requisite details are attached as per Annexure. FDI directly supplements domestic capital, technology and skills in the sectors of direct entry. It has indirect multiplier effect on other related sectors also, and thereby stimulates economic growth. FDI inflows also have a positive impact on the current account balance.

The information was given by the Minister of State in the Ministry of Commerce and Industry Dr. E.M. Sudarsana Natchiappan in Lok Sabha today.

Foreign direct investment policy permits full foreign ownership under automatic route in most sectors and relaxes caps across key sectors Government amended sectoral caps and entry routes across multiple sectors to make the FDI regime more investor friendly, expanding permissive entry through the automatic route to allow full foreign ownership in most sectors. The policy was adopted after consultations with concerned ministries and is supported by active government promotion, coordination with industry associations, and the creation of Invest India as a single window facilitator to attract and assist overseas investors.