Chandigarh, Jun 10 (PTI) India attracted cumulative Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) inflows of USD 843 billion between 2014-15 and 2025-26, registering a 169 per cent increase over the preceding 12-year period, a commerce and industry ministry official said on Wednesday.

Despite global economic uncertainties, the country recorded a historic USD 94.53 billion FDI in 2025-26, with over 90 per cent of equity inflows coming through the automatic route, said Sumeet Jarangal, joint secretary in the department for promotion of industry and internal trade (DPIIT).

He highlighted that flagship initiatives such as Make in India and the Production Linked Incentive (PLI) Scheme have translated investments into manufacturing strength.

Across 14 strategic sectors, the PLI schemes have attracted investments of Rs 2.40 lakh crore, generated production worth Rs 22.66 lakh crore, exports exceeding Rs 15.20 lakh crore, and created more than 14 lakh jobs.

Jarangal was addressing the media to highlight his department's major initiatives, structural reforms and achievements over the past decade as part of the government's nationwide campaign commemorating 12 years of governance.

Jarangal also outlined the transformative journey of India's industrial and startup ecosystem, emphasising that policy reforms, innovation and entrepreneurship have emerged as key pillars of India's economic resilience and global competitiveness.

He said India has successfully navigated multiple global disruptions, while undertaking far-reaching structural reforms that have strengthened investor confidence and accelerated industrial growth.

He noted that India now manufactures 99.2 per cent of the mobile phones used domestically, while the pharmaceutical sector has significantly reduced import dependence through domestic production of 191 bulk drugs, with PLI-supported production contributing substantially to exports.

He also highlighted the government's sustained efforts to simplify regulations and improve the ease of doing business.

More than 47,000 compliance requirements have been eliminated, and numerous legal provisions rationalised through the Jan Vishwas Act, 2026, reflecting a shift from enforcement-based regulation to a trust-based governance framework, he informed.

The National Single Window System, integrated with 32 central ministries and 34 states and Union Territories, has processed over 13.7 lakh applications and facilitated more than 8.5 lakh approvals, creating a seamless investment ecosystem.

Reforms are further being strengthened through initiatives such as the Business Reforms Action Plan (BRAP), Udyog Samagam and District-level BRAP.

Focusing on India's startup revolution, Jarangal said the Startup India initiative, launched on January 16, 2016, has evolved into a comprehensive platform supporting entrepreneurship through startup recognition, seed funding, venture capital support, credit guarantees, tax incentives, procurement reforms and international market access.

Today, India has more than 2.35 lakh DPIIT-recognised startups, generating around 24 lakh direct jobs, with over half emerging from Tier-II and Tier-III cities, he informed.

Nearly half of these startups have at least one woman director or partner, reflecting the inclusive nature of the ecosystem.

He said key initiatives, such as the Startup India Seed Fund Scheme (SISFS), Credit Guarantee Scheme for Startups (CGSS), Fund of Funds for Startups (FFS 1.0) and the newly launched Startup India Fund of Funds 2.0, are strengthening access to capital across various stages of the startup lifecycle.

Under FFS 1.0, investments of nearly Rs 27,600 crore have been facilitated across more than 1,450 startups, while Rs 945 crore has been approved under SISFS through over 215 incubators. CGSS has supported startup borrowers through loan guarantees exceeding Rs 1,350 crore, he said.

The joint secretary noted that Haryana, Punjab and Chandigarh together account for around 15,500 DPIIT-recognised startups, generating over 1.7 lakh direct jobs.

The region has witnessed investments of over Rs 2,270 crore across more than 115 startups through Alternative Investment Funds supported under FFS, while nearly 260 startups have benefited under the Startup India Seed Fund Scheme.

Credit support through CGSS has enabled guaranteed loans of around Rs 180 crore, and over 320 startups across the three regions have received Certificates of Eligibility for income tax exemption.

These achievements, he said, demonstrate the growing strength of the region's innovation ecosystem and its contribution to employment generation and economic growth. PTI CHS HVA

Foreign direct investment and startup reforms drive India's manufacturing growth, regulatory simplification and broader innovation ecosystem. India's investment and industrial policy framework has been strengthened through sustained foreign direct investment, manufacturing incentives and regulatory simplification. Flagship initiatives such as Make in India and the Production Linked Incentive scheme have been credited with increasing domestic manufacturing, export output and job creation across strategic sectors, while broader structural reforms are presented as reinforcing investor confidence and industrial growth. Ease of doing business measures include the removal of more than 47,000 compliance requirements, rationalisation of legal provisions through the Jan Vishwas framework, and the use of the National Single Window System for investment approvals.