Govt working on guidelines for defence FDI beyond 49%

New Delhi: The government is working on guidelines for defence FDI proposals where foreign investment would be more than 49 percent.

At present, FDI up to 49 percent is allowed under automatic route in the defence sector, while Foreign Investment Promotion Board’s approval is required for proposals committing foreign investment beyond 49 percent.

A meeting on the formulation of guidelines was held in the Ministry of Defence earlier this week, sources said.

The guidelines would help facilitate foreign investments for beyond 49 percent shareholding, they added.

Last year, the government relaxed FDI norms in the defence sector by allowing FDI up to 49 percent under automatic route and beyond that through the FIPB’s approval.

The development assumes significance as French defence major DCNS has approached the government with a 100 percent FDI proposal in the sector.

Although the government had liberalised the FDI cap in the sector, but no major overseas investment has been received in the segment so far.

The move would also help boost the domestic industry which imports up to 70 percent of its military hardware.

PTI