In addition to Seven Central Government Special Economic Zones (SEZs) and 11 State/Private Sector SEZs set-up prior to the enactment of the SEZs Act, 2005, approvals have been accorded in respect of 416 proposals for setting up of SEZs in the country.

Land is a State subject. Central Government does not carry out any land acquisition process. In all cases of notified SEZs, the land has been either purchased directly by the developer from the landholders or the land is acquired by the State Government through its agencies and leased to the developer as per the policy and procedures of the respective State Governments. SEZ approvals are given on the recommendation of the respective State Governments.

. This information was given by the Commerce and Industry Minister Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman in a written reply in Rajya Sabha today.

State control over SEZ land: central government does not acquire land and approvals depend on state recommendations. Central approval of SEZs follows State recommendation while land remains a State subject; the Central Government does not acquire land for SEZs, and land for notified SEZs is supplied either by direct purchase by developers or by State Governments acquiring land through their agencies and leasing it to developers under State policies.