DPIIT releases consolidated FDI policy 2020

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Implementation of the NDI Rules - Last year in October, the Central Government introduced NDI Rules in supersession of the Foreign Exchange Management (Transfer  and Issue of Security by a Person Resident outside India) Regulations, 2017 and the Foreign Exchange Management (Acquisition and Transfer of Immovable Property in India) Regulations, 2018. This change led to a shift in rule making power (so far as foreign investment in India is concerned) to the Central Government. Subsequently, in July 2020, the NDI Rules were amended, and the Reserve Bank of India was entrusted with the sole power to consider applications for investments in India which were not specifically permitted under the Foreign Exchange Management Act, 1999 or rules and regulations made thereunder.

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Inclusion of PN 3 of 2020: The Revised Policy incorporates the key restrictions imposed by the Press Note No. 3 - 2020 series (PN3 of 2020) earlier this year relating to FDI from entities or citizen of neighboring countries sharing land borders (including China) with India. As per PN3 of 2020, any FDI from such countries will require prior government approval. The Revised Policy also included the scenario with respect to transfer of ownership of an Indian entity, directly or indirectly, resulting in the beneficial ownership falling within the restriction/purview stated above. Therefore, any transfer of ownership resulting into transfer of beneficial ownership to entities or citizens of neighboring countries sharing land borders will require government approval. The term “beneficial ownership” remains undefined and creates ambiguity for foreign investors who may not be owned/controlled by any Chinese entities or citizens but have minority shareholding from China or other countries sharing land borders with India.

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Revisions of sectoral caps: Various press notes/circulars were issued by DPIIT to bring in changes in FDI limits and sector specific conditionalities. We have set out below a summary of key changes brought into effect in various sectors:

Sector

Summary of changes introduced

Defence

FDI limit in defence manufacturing, under the automatic route was increased from 49% to 74% and certain sector specific conditionalities were revised.

Contract Manufacturing

Necessary clarification was issued to include contract manufacturing under 'manufacturing' sector under automatic route.

Single Brand Retail Trading

100% FDI under automatic route was permitted in the sector. Further, certain sector specific conditionalities including local sourcing norms were also relaxed.

E-commerce

Certain restrictions were imposed on e-commerce marketplace entities or group companies from selling their products on the platform run by the said marketplace entity.

Digital Media

DPIIT had introduced a FDI regime for entities engaged in the news digital media sector and allowed FDI up to 26% under the government approval route for entities engaged in uploading / streaming of news and current affairs through digital media platforms.

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Separately, the Revised Policy also retains a prerequisite of FC-TRS acknowledgement before transfer of shares is recorded in a target company’s books. Therefore, the buyers of the shares of Indian companies need to ensure that the FC-TRS filings are completed and accepted in an expedited manner so the name of the buyer can be recorded in the books of the company immediately upon closing.