In order to boost the ailing economy, the government has liberalized foreign direct investment (FDI) norms in the four sectors. The Union Cabinet has allowed 100% FDI in coal mining and contract manufacturing, eased sourcing norms for single-brand retailers and approved 26% overseas investment in digital media. In single-brand retail trading (SBRT), the definition of 30% local sourcing norm has been relaxed and online sales permitted without prior opening of brick and mortar stores.
Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal has said that the changes in FDI policy will result in making India a more attractive FDI destination, leading to benefits of increased investments, employment, and growth. He said 100% FDI under automatic route in coal mining and sale of coal as also associated infrastructure activity has been allowed to help attract international players to create an efficient and competitive coal market. Also, 100 per cent FDI under automatic route has been allowed in contract manufacturing to give a big boost to domestic manufacturing.
Goyal said decisions of the Cabinet are aimed to liberalize and simplify the FDI policy to provide ease of doing business in the country, leading to larger FDI inflows and thereby contributing to the growth of investment, income and employment. FDI is a major driver of economic growth and a source of non-debt finance for the economic development of the country. The government has put in place an investor-friendly policy on FDI, under which investment up to 100% is permitted on the automatic route in most sectors/ activities. These reforms have led to total FDI into India reaching $286 billion in five years from 2014-15 to 2018-19 as compared to $189 billion in the previous five-years. At $64.37 billion, FDI in 2018-19 is the highest ever investment received for any financial year.
Start Research-backed Investing ...Now. Subscribe to Sapphire
MoneyWorks4Me is a SEBI-registered Investment Adviser (IA) dedicated to helping investors build long-term wealth through transparent, research-driven, conflict-free guidance. Founded in 2008, we started our journey as a Research Analyst (RA), providing deep fundamental analysis, intrinsic value insights, and long-term investing frameworks for Indian equities. In 2017, we transitioned to a full-fledged SEBI-registered Investment Adviser, strengthening our commitment to acting as a fiduciary—always putting the investor’s interest first.
To become India’s most trusted, research-powered fiduciary advisory platform—where every investor, regardless of experience, can make calm, confident, and well-reasoned investment decisions.
MoneyWorks4Me ensures this through: