• As many as 347 foreign direct investment (FDI) proposals, worth about Rs 75,951 crore, have been received by the government from countries sharing land border with India since April 18, 2020.

• Out of 347, as many as 66 proposals have so far been granted approval by the government and 193 cases have been rejected or closed or withdrawn, Minister of State for Commerce and Industry Som Parkash said in a written reply to the Lok Sabha.

• In April 2020, the government had made its prior approval mandatory for foreign investments from countries that share land border with India to curb opportunistic takeovers of domestic firms following the COVID-19 pandemic.

• Countries which share land border with India are China, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Bhutan, Nepal, Myanmar and Afghanistan. 

• As per that decision, FDI proposals from these countries need government approval for investments in India in any sector.

• The 66 approved proposals are from sectors including automobile (7), chemicals (5), computer software and hardware (3), pharma (4), education (1), electronics (8), food processing (2), information and broadcasting (1), machine tools (1), petroleum and natural gas (1), power (1), services sector (11).

• The total value of investments of these 66 proposals aggregated to Rs 13,624.88 crore.

Foreign Direct Investment (FDI)

• Foreign direct investment (FDI) is a major driver of economic growth and a source of non-debt finance for the economic development of India. 

• After abolition of the erstwhile foreign investment Promotion Board (FIPB), process for granting FDI approvals has been simplified wherein the work relating to processing of applications for FDI and approval of the government thereon under the extant FDI Policy and FEMA, is now handled by the concerned ministries/departments.

• The Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) is mandated with the task of formulation of FDI policy of the government of India. 

• A portal (www.fifp.gov.in ) has been created, which is administered by this Department and the portal will continue to facilitate the single window clearance of applications which are through approval route. 

• The policy pronouncements on FDI are made by DPIIT and necessary notifications are issued under Foreign Exchange Management Act, 1999.

• The DPIIT also maintains data on inward FDI into India based upon the remittances reported by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI). 

• FDI in India is permitted either through the automatic route or the government approval route. 

Automatic Route: Under the Automatic Route, the non-resident investor or the Indian company does not require any approval from the government of India for the investment.

Government Route: Under the Government Route, prior to investment, approval from the government of India is required. Proposals for foreign direct investment under government route, are considered by respective administrative ministry/department.

• It has been the intent and objective of the government to attract and promote FDI and make the FDI policy regime more investor friendly, in keeping with national interests. 

• In line with its stated objective, the government has put in place a transparent and easily comprehensible policy framework on FDI. 

• Further, FDI policy regime has been liberalised continuously over the years wherein FDI up to 100 per cent is permitted under automatic route in most sectors/activities. 

Government initiatives to increase FDI:

Production Linked Incentive Scheme (PLI): It aims to boost domestic manufacturing and attract large investments in mobile phone manufacturing and specified electronic components, including Assembly, Testing, Marking and Packaging (ATMP) units. The scheme would tremendously boost the electronics manufacturing landscape and establish India at the global level in the electronics sector.

Coal sector: 100 per cent FDI permitted under automatic route in coal mining activities, including associated processing infrastructure, for sale of coal, subject to the provisions of Coal Mines (Special Provisions) Act, 2015 and the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957 as amended from time to time and other relevant Acts on the subject.

Insurance sector: The government has increased the FDI limit in the insurance sector under the automatic route to 75 per cent from 49 per cent earlier. The new arrangement is expected to benefit 23 private life insurers, 21 private non-life insurers and seven specialised private health insurance companies.

Civil Aviation: Government amended the extant FDI policy to permit foreign investment in Air India Ltd by NRIs, who are Indian Nationals, up to 100 per cent under automatic route.

Defence sector: FDI in defence sector is allowed up to 74 per cent through automatic route (from earlier 49 per cent) for companies seeking new industrial licenses. FDI beyond 74 per cent and up to 100 per cent will be permitted under the government route.

For existing FDI approved holders/defence licensees, infusion of fresh foreign investment up to 49 per cent resulting in change in equity/shareholding pattern can be done by making declaration within 30 days (earlier government approval was required). Now, foreign investments in the defence sector shall be subject to scrutiny on grounds on national security.

Manufacturing sector: FDI in manufacturing was already under the 100 per cent automatic route, however in 2019, the government clarified that investments in Indian entities engaged in contract manufacturing is also permitted under the 100 per cent automatic route provided it is undertaken through a legitimate contract.

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