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Sector Specific Guidelines for Foreign Direct Investment

GUIDELINES FOR FDI IN DEVELOPMENT OF

TOWNSHIP, HOUSING, BUILDING, INFRASTRUCTURE

AND CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS

 

            With a view to catalyzing investment in townships, housing, built-up infrastructure and construction-development projects as an instrument to generate economic activity, create new employment opportunities and add to the available housing stock and built-up infrastructure, the Government has vide Press Note No. 2 (2005 series) decided to allow FDI up to 100% under the automatic route in township, housing, built-up infrastructure and construction-development projects (which would include, but not be restricted to, housing, commercial premises, hotels, resorts, hospitals, educational institutions, recreational facilities, city and regional level infrastructure), subject to the following guidelines:

a. Minimum area to be developed under each project would be as under: 

i.                     In case of development of serviced housing plots, a minimum land area of 10 hectares

ii.                   In case of construction-development projects, a minimum built-up area of 50,000 sq. mts

iii.                  In case of a combination project, any one of the above two conditions would suffice

 

b. The investment would further be subject to the following conditions: 

i.                     Minimum capitalization of US$ 10 million for wholly owned subsidiaries and US$ 5 million for joint ventures with Indian partners.  The funds would have to be brought in within six months of commencement of business of the Company.

 

ii.         Original investment cannot be repatriated before a period of three years from completion of minimum capitalization.  However, the investor may be permitted to exit earlier with prior approval of the Government through the FIPB.

 

c.         At least 50% of the project must be developed within a period of five years from the date of obtaining all statutory clearances.  The investor would not be permitted to sell undeveloped plots. For the purpose of these guidelines, “undeveloped plots” will mean where roads, water supply, street lighting, drainage, sewerage and other conveniences, as applicable under prescribed regulations, have not been made available.  It will be necessary that the investor provides this infrastructure and obtains the completion certificate from the concerned local body/service agency before he would be allowed to dispose of serviced housing plots. 

d.         The project shall conform to the norms and standards, including land use requirements and provision of community amenities and common facilities, as laid down in the applicable building control regulations, bye-laws, rules, and other regulations of the State Government/Municipal/Local Body concerned.

e.         The investor shall be responsible for obtaining all necessary approvals, including those of the building/layout plans, developing internal and peripheral areas and other infrastructure facilities, payment of development, external and other charges and complying with all other requirements as prescribed under applicable rules/bye-laws/regulations of the State Government/Municipal/Local Body concerned. 

f.          The State Government/Municipal/Local Body concerned, which approves the building/development plans, would monitor compliance of the above conditions by the developer. 

2.         Para (iv) of Press Note 4 (2001 Series), issued by the Government on 21.5.2001, and Press Note 3 (2002 Series), issued on 4.1.2002, stand superceded.

 

FDI Prohibited FDI up to 26% allowed FDI up to 49% allowed FDI up to 74% allowed FDI up to 100% allowed Subject to conditions

   i.Retail trading

 ii.Atomic energy

iii.Lottery business

iv.Gambling & betting sector

 v.Housing and real estate business except development of integrated townships.

Agriculture (excluding Floriculture, Horticulture, Development of Seeds, Animal Husbandry, Pisiculture and cultivation of vegetables, mushrooms etc. under controlled conditions and services related to agro and allied sectors) and Plantation (excluding Tea Plantations)

 

i.   FM Broadcasting – only portfolio investment up to 20% with prior Government approval

ii.  Print media: Publishing newspaper and periodicals dealing with news and current affairs – FDI up to 26% with prior Government approval

iii.  Defence industries – FDI up to 26 % with prior Government approval

iv. Insurance – Foreign equity (FDI+FII) up to 26% under the automatic route.

 

i.       Broadcasting

a.      Setting up hardware facilities such as up-linking, HUB, etc. – FDI+FII equity up to 49% with prior Government approval

b.  Cable network – Foreign equity (FDI+FII) up to 49% with prior Government approval

c.      DTH – Foreign equity (FDI+FII) up to 49% with prior Government approval. FDI can not exceed 20%

ii.       Domestic airlines – FDI up to 49% under the automatic route with no direct or indirect participation of foreign airlines

iii.     Telecommunication services: basic and cellular – FDI up to 49%.  However, under license conditions foreign equity (FDI+FII) up to 49% is allowed.  The decision to raise foreign equity limit to 74% has not been notified so far.

Investing companies in infrastructure/service sector – FDI up to 49% with prior Government approval

 

i. Development of Airports – up to 74% under the automatic route; prior Government approval beyond 74%

ii. ISP with gateways, radio-paging, end-to-end bandwidth – FDI up to 74%  with FDI beyond 49% requiring prior Government approval

iii.      Establishment and operation of satellites – FDI up to 74% with prior Government approval

iv.     Atomic minerals – FDI up to 74% with prior Government approval

v.       Exploration and mining of coal and lignite or captive consumption – FDI up to 74% with
FDI above 50% requiring prior Government approval.

vi.     Mining of diamonds and precious stones – FDI up to 74% under the automatic route

Private sector banks – Foreign equity (FDI+FII) up to 74% under the automatic route.

 

i. Development of Airports – FDI beyond 74% requires Government approval

ii.    Petroleum sector: NG/LPG pipelines with prior Government approval

iii.  Petroleum sector: market study and formulation, investment/financing with prior Government approval.  Minimum 26% Indian equity within 5 years for actual trading and marketing

iv.  Trading: wholesale cash and carry; exports, trading of hi-tech items with prior Government approval.  In Export trading – FDI up to 49% permitted under the automatic route.

v.   B2B e-commerce subject to divestment of 26% equity within 5 years if the company is listed in other parts of the

vi.        Courier services – prior Government approval

vii.Tea Sector, including tea plantation – prior Government approval subject to divestment of 26% equity within five years

viii.     Non Banking Finance Companies – FDI up to 100% under the automatic route subject to minimum capitalization norms.

ix.  ISP without gateway, infrastructure provider providing dark fibre, electronic mail and voice mail – FDI up to 100% allowed subject to divestment of 26% equity in 5 years if the investing companies are listed in other parts of the world.

Domestic airlines – NRI investment up to 100% permitted under the automatic route with no direct or indirect participation of foreign airlines.

 

FDI Permitted in Various Sectors/Activities (Automatic Route)

 

Illustrative list of sectors under automatic route

For FDI up to 100%

Illustrative list of infrastructure sectors with FDI Up to 100% under automatic route Illustrative list of services sector with FDI upto 100% under automatic route
  • Most manufacturing activities
  • Non-banking financial services
  • Drugs and pharmaceuticals
  • Food processing
  • Electronic hardware
  • Software development
  • Film industry
  • Advertising
  • Hospitals
  • Private oil refineries
  • Pollution control and management
  • Exploration and mining of minerals other than diamonds and precious stones
  • Management consultancy
  • Venture capital funds/companies
  • Setting up/development of industrial park/model town/SEZ
Petroleum Products Pipeline
  • Electricity Generation (except Atomic energy)
  • Electricity Transmission
  • Electricity Distribution
  • Mass Rapid Transport System
  • Roads & Highways
  • Toll Roads
  • Vehicular Bridges
  • Ports & Harbours
  • Hotel & Tourism
Townships, Housing, Built-up infrastructure and Construction Development Project

 

  • Advertising and Films
  • Computer related Services
  • Research and Development Services
  • Construction and related Engineering Services
  • Pollution Control and Management Services
  • Urban Planning and Landscape Services
  • Architectural Services
  • Health related & Social Services
  • Travel related services
  • Road Transport Services
  • Maritime Transport Services
Internal Waterways Transport Services