Home India Ministry of Finance Amendment to the Foreign Exchange Managemengt (Non debt Inst...
Date: 2026-05-02 Category: Extra Ordinary State: Union Government Country: India

Amendment to the Foreign Exchange Managemengt (Non debt Instruments) Rules2019 consequent to DPIIT Press Note No 2(2026 Series)

Issued by Ministry of Finance · Department of Economic Affairs

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Executive Summary & Key Takeaways

**Executive Summary** The Ministry of Finance has issued the Foreign Exchange Management (Non-debt Instruments) (Amendment) Rules, 2026, to further regulate foreign investment into India. These rules, effective from May 2, 2026, clarify the mandatory "Government route" for investors from countries sharing a land border with India and define "beneficial ownership" criteria. The amendment also addresses specific restrictions for Pakistani entities and establishes reporting requirements for certain non-government route investments. **Key Points / Main Content** **Investment Restrictions for Border-Sharing Countries** * Any entity or citizen from a country sharing a land border with India must invest only through the Government route. * The Government route requirement applies if the beneficial owner of an investment into India is a citizen of or resides in a country sharing a land border with India. * Prior Government approval is mandatory for any subsequent transfer of ownership in an existing or future FDI that results in beneficial ownership falling under these restricted categories. **Provisions for Pakistani Investors** * Citizens or entities incorporated in Pakistan are restricted to the Government route for all permitted investments. * Investment from Pakistan remains strictly prohibited in sectors such as defence, space, and atomic energy. **Beneficial Ownership and Multilateral Institutions** * "Beneficial owner" is defined in alignment with the Prevention of Money-laundering Act, 2002, focusing on thresholds of rights, entitlements, and exercise of ultimate effective control over the investee entity. * Multilateral Banks or Funds in which India is a member are exempt; they are not treated as entities of a particular country or as beneficial owners for the purpose of these restrictions. **Oil Sector and Reporting Requirements** * The issue or transfer of "participating interest or right" in oil fields by Indian companies to non-residents is classified as foreign investment and must comply with Schedule I. * Investments that do not require prior Government approval under these clauses remain subject to specific reporting requirements as determined by the Reserve Bank of India. **Impact Analysis** **Foreign Investors (from Border-Sharing Countries)** **Impact** Investors from neighboring countries or entities with beneficial owners from these countries can no longer use the automatic route for FDI. They are subject to stricter scrutiny regarding ownership transfers and ultimate control. **Action Required** Must seek formal Government approval before making any investment or initiating ownership transfers that result in beneficial ownership changes involving border-sharing countries. **Pakistani Citizens and Entities** **Impact** They are restricted to the Government route and completely barred from sensitive sectors like defence and atomic energy. **Action Required** Must ensure all investments are processed through the Government route and avoid restricted sectors. **Indian Companies (Investee Entities)** **Impact** Companies receiving FDI must now perform deeper due diligence on the beneficial ownership of their investors to ensure compliance with the "Government route" mandate. Companies in the oil sector must treat the transfer of participating interests as foreign investment. **Action Required** Must comply with Reserve Bank of India reporting requirements and ensure Government approval is obtained for investments involving restricted stakeholders. **Multilateral Banks and Funds (where India is a member)** **Impact** These institutions are excluded from the restrictive definitions of "beneficial owner" or "entity of a particular country." **Action Required** None specified; they may continue investments as per existing Schedule I terms without the land-border restrictions.

Key Entities Referenced

Foreign Exchange Management (Non-debt Instruments) (Amendment) Rules, 2026: The specific regulatory document issued to amend the existing norms for foreign investment in non-debt instruments. Foreign Exchange Management Act, 1999: The primary legislation that empowers the Central Government to frame rules regarding foreign exchange and cross-border investments. Foreign Exchange Management (Non-debt Instruments) Rules, 2019: The principal rules being modified to update the conditions for foreign entities and individuals investing in Indian equity. Prevention of Money-laundering Act, 2002: Statutory reference used to define the 'beneficial owner' of an investment, crucial for determining the applicability of restrictive investment routes. Pakistan: A location central to the policy's applicability, as its citizens and entities face additional sectoral prohibitions and mandatory government approval requirements.
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रजिस्ट्री स.ं डी.एल.- 33004/99 REGD. No. D. L.-33004/99 सी.जी.-डी.एल.-अ.-02052026-272196 CG-DxLx-xEG-I0D2H0x5x2x0 26-272196 xxxGIDExxx असाधारण EXTRAORDINARY भाग II—खण् ड 3—उप-खण्ड (ii) PART II—Section 3—Sub-section (ii) प्राजधकार स ेप्रकाजित PUBLISHED BY AUTHORITY स.ं 2093] नई दिल्ली, िजनिार, मई 2, 2026/ििै ाख 12, 1948 No. 2093] NEW DELHI, SATURDAY, MAY 2, 2026/VAISAKHA 12, 1948 जित्त मंत्रालय (आर्थकि काय िजिभाग) अजधसचू ना नई दिल्ली, 1 मई, 2026 का.आ. 2174(अ).— केंद्रीय सरकार, जििेिी मुद्रा प्रबंध अजधजनयम, 1999 (1999 का 42) की धारा 46 की उपधारा (2) के खंड (कक) और खंड (कख) द्वारा प्रित्त िजियों का प्रयोग करत े हुए, जििेिी मुद्रा प्रबंध (गरै -ऋण जलखत) जनयम, 2019 में और संिोधन करने के जलए जनम्नजलजखत जनयम बनाती है, अथाित:् –– 1. सजं िप्त नाम और प्रारंभ— (1) इन जनयमों का संजिप्त नाम जििेिी मुद्रा प्रबंध (गरै -ऋण जलखत) (संिोधन) जनयम, 2026 ह।ै (2) य ेरािपत्र में उनके प्रकािन की तारीख से प्रिृत्त होंगे। 2. सिं ोधन— जििेिी मुद्रा प्रबधं (गैर-ऋण जलखत) जनयम, 2019 के, –– (क) जनयम 2 खडं (प) म ेंहहिं ी पाठ म ें संिोधन करने की आिश्यकता नहीं ह;ै (ख) जनयम 6 म,ें खडं (क) के स्ट्थान पर जनम्नजलजखत खंड रखा - िाएगा, अथाित:् –– ‘(क) अनुसूची I म ें यथा जिजनर्ििष्ट रीजत म ें और जनबंधन तथा ितों के अधीन, कोई भी भारतीय कंपनी के इदिटी जलखतों का अजभिान, क्रय या जिक्रय कर सकेगा: 3078 GI/2026 (1)2 THE GAZETTE OF INDIA : EXTRAORDINARY [PART II—SEC. 3(ii)] परंतु–– (i) कोई ििे , िो भारत के साथ सीमा साझा करता ह,ै की कोई इकाई या नागररक, अथिा िहां भारत म ें जिजनधान का फायिाप्रि स्ट्िामी ऐसे दकसी ििे का नागररक ह,ै अथिा िहां जिजनधान का फायिाप्रि स्ट्िाजमत्ि ऐसे दकसी िेि म ेंजनजहत ह,ै िह अनुसूची I के पैरा (3) के खडं (क) के उपखंड (ii) में जिजनर्िष्टि , केिल सरकारी माग िके अधीन, ही जिजनधान करेगा; (ii) पादकस्ट्तान का कोई नागररक या पादकस्ट्तान म ेंजनगजमत कोई इकाई, केिल सरकार के माध्यम स,े रिा, अंतररि, परमाण ु ऊिाि तथा ऐस े अन्य िेत्रों या दक्रयाकलापों, िो जििेिी जिजनधान के जलए प्रजतबंजधत ह,ैं स े जभन्न िेत्रो और दक्रयाकलापो म ें जिजनधान करेगा; (iii) भारत म ें दकसी इकाई म ें प्रत्यि या अप्रत्यि, दकसी जिद्यमान या भजिष्य के एफडीआई के स्ट्िाजमत्ि के अंतरण होता ह ै जिसके पररणामस्ट्िरुप उपरोि खंड (i) और (ii) के जनबंधन के भीतर आ िाता ह,ै तो फायिाप्रि स्ट्िाजमत्ि में ऐसे पश्चातिती पररितिन पर भी सरकार का पिू ि अनुमोिन अपेजित होगा। (iv) कोई बहुपिीय बैंक या जनजध, जिसका भारत सिस्ट्य ह,ै उसे दकसी जििेष िेि की इकाई नहीं माना िाएगा और न ही दकसी िेि को भारत में ऐसे बैंक या जनजध के जिजनधान का फायिाप्रि स्ट्िामी माना िाएगा: परंत ु यह और दक भारत म ेंजिजनधान, दकसी ऐसी जिजनधानकताि इकाई से–– (i) जिसमें भारत के साथ सीमा साझा करने िाले दकसी िेि के नागररक या इकाई द्वारा प्रत्यि या अप्रत्यि स्ट्िाजमत्ि हो; और (ii) जिसे इस खंड के उपबंधो के अधीन पूिि सरकारी अनुमोिन की आिश्यकता न हो, ऐसे जिजनधान भारतीय ररिि िबैंक द्वारा जिजनर्ििष्ट ररपोर्टंग आिश्यकताओं के अधीन होंगे। स्ट्पष्टीकरण 1.— इस खंड के प्रयोिनों के जलए–– (i) “भारत म ें जनिेि का लाभकारी स्ट्िामी” से अजभप्राय उस जनिेिक जनकाय के लाभकारी स्ट्िामी से होगा, िो ऐस े िेि म ें जनगजमत या पंिीकृत ह,ै िो भारत के साथ सीमा साझा नहीं करता; तथा (ii) “फायिाप्रि स्ट्िामी” पि का िही अथि होगा िो धन-िोधन जनिारण अजधजनयम, 2002 (2003 का 15) की धारा 2 की उपधारा (1) के खंड (चक) में ह ै तथा उि अजधजनयम के अधीन बनाय े गए धन-िोधन जनिारण (अजभलेखों का रखरखाि) जनयम, 2005 के जनयम 9 के उप-जनयम (3) के अधीन जिजनर्िष्टि मानिडं ों के अनुसार जनधािररत ह ै। स्ट्पष्टीकरण 2.— दकसी जिजनधान का फायिाप्रि स्ट्िाजमत्ि भारत के साथ सीमा साझा करन ेिाल ेिेि म ेंजनजहत माना िाएगा, िहााँ िह –– (क) ऐसे िेि का नागररक िो भारत के साथ सीमा साझा करता ह ै; या (ख) ऐसे िेि म ेंजनगजमत या रेजिस्ट्रीकृत जनकाय िो भारत के साथ सीमा साझा करता ह,ै प्रत्यि या अप्रत्यि रूप स,े व्यजिगत रूप से या दकसी अन्य नागररक या इकाई के साथ संचयी रूप स,े स्ट्ितंत्र रूप से या दकसी अन्य नागररक या इकाई के साथ सामूजहक रूप से, चाह ेएक साथ कायि कर रह ेहों या अन्यथा,–– (क) भारत के साथ सीमा साझा करने िाले िेि के अजतररि दकसी अन्य िेि में जनगजमत या रजिस्ट्रीकृत जिजनधानकताि इकाई पर, धन िोधन जनिारण (अजभलेखों का रखरखाि) जनयम, 2005 के जनयम 9 के उप-जनयम (3) में जिजनर्ििष्ट लाग ूसीमाओं से अजधक अजधकार या हकिारी धारण करने म ेंसिम हों; या (ख) िो ऐसे नागररक या जनकाय या िोनों को उि जिजनधानकताि इकाई पर जनयंत्रण का प्रयोग करने म ें सिम बनात े हों; या (ग) िो ऐसे नागररक या इकाई या िोनों को जिजनधान प्राप्तकताि इकाई पर दकसी भी प्रकार से अंजतम प्रभािी जनयंत्रण का प्रयोग करने म ेंसिम बनात े हों। स्ट्पष्टीकरण 3.— भारतीय कंपजनयों द्वारा तेल िेत्रों म ें “भागीिारी जहत या अजधकार” का जनगमि न या अंतरण, भारत के बाहर जनिासी दकसी व्यजि को, जििेिी जिजनधान माना िाएगा और यह अनुसूची I म ेंजिजनर्िष्टि ितों के अधीन होगा।‘ [फा. सं. 1/4/2026-ईएम] आलोक जतिारी, संयुि सजचि[भाग II—खण् ड 3(ii)] भारत का रािपत्र : असाधारण 3 रटप्पण : जििेिी मुद्रा प्रबंध ((गैर-ऋण जलखत) जनयम, 2019 भारत के रािपत्र, असाधारण, भाग II, खडं 3, उप-खडं (ii) में का.आ. संख्या. 3732 (अ), तारीख 17 अक्टूबर, 2019 के अधीन प्रकाजित दकए गए थे और तत्पश्चात जनम्नजलजखत अजधसूचना संख्याओं के अधीन संिोजधत दकए गए थ:े (i) का.आ. 4355 (अ), तारीख 5 दिसंबर 2019; (ii) का.आ. 1278 (अ), तारीख 22 अप्रैल 2020; (iii) का.आ. 1374 (अ), तारीख 27 अप्रैल 2020; (iv) का.आ. 2442 (अ), तारीख 27 िलु ाई 2020; (v) का.आ. 4441 (अ), तारीख 8 दिसंबर 2020; (vi) का.आ. 3206 (अ), तारीख 9 अगस्ट्त 2021; (vii) का.आ. 3411 (अ), तारीख 19 अगस्ट्त 2021; (viii) का.आ. 4091 (अ), तारीख 5 अक्टूबर 2021; (ix) का.आ. 4242 (अ), तारीख 12 अक्टूबर 2021; (x) का.आ. 1802 (अ), तारीख 12 अप्रैल 2022; (xi) का.आ. 332 (अ), तारीख 24 िनिरी 2024; (xii) का.आ. 1361 (अ), तारीख 14 माचि 2024; (xiii) का.आ. 1722 (अ), तारीख 16 अप्रैल 2024; (xiv) का.आ. 3492 (अ), तारीख 16 अगस्ट्त 2024; और (xv) का.आ. 2549 (अ), तारीख 11 िून 2025. MINISTRY OF FINANCE (Department of Economic Affairs) NOTIFICATION New Delhi, the 1st May, 2026 S.O. 2174(E). — In exercise of the powers conferred by clauses (aa) and (ab) of sub-section (2) of section 46 of the Foreign Exchange Management Act, 1999 (42 of 1999), the Central Government hereby makes the following rules further to amend the Foreign Exchange Management (Non-debt Instruments) Rules, 2019, namely: –– 1. (1) These rules may be called the Foreign Exchange Management (Non-debt Instruments) (Amendment) Rules, 2026. (2) They shall come into force on the date of their publication in the Official Gazette. 2. In the Foreign Exchange Management (Non-debt Instruments) Rules, 2019, — (a) in rule 2, in clause (6), for the words “government approval”, the words “Government approval” shall be substituted; (b) in rule 6, for clause (a), the following clause shall be substituted, namely: - ‘(a) may subscribe, purchase or sell equity instruments of an Indian company in the manner and subject to the terms and conditions as specified in Schedule I: Provided that — (i) an entity or a citizen of a country, which shares land border with India, or where the beneficial owner of an investment into India is a citizen of any such country, or where the beneficial ownership of an investment is vested in any such country, shall invest only under the Government route specified in sub- clause (ii) of clause (a) of paragraph (3) of Schedule I;4 THE GAZETTE OF INDIA : EXTRAORDINARY [PART II—SEC. 3(ii)] (ii) a citizen of Pakistan or an entity incorporated in Pakistan shall invest only under the Government route, in sectors or activities other than defence, space, atomic energy and such other sectors or activities prohibited for foreign investment; (iii) in the event of the transfer of ownership of any existing or future FDI in an entity in India, directly or indirectly, resulting in the beneficial ownership falling within the restriction of the above clauses (i) and (ii), such subsequent change in beneficial ownership shall also require prior Government approval. (iv) a Multilateral Bank or Fund, of which India is a member, shall not be treated as an entity of a particular country nor shall any country be treated as the beneficial owner of the investments of such Bank or Fund in India: Provided further that the investments into India from an investor entity, — (i) having any direct or indirect ownership by a citizen or an entity of a country sharing land border with India; and (ii) not requiring prior Government approval under the provisions of this clause, shall be subject to reporting requirements specified by the Reserve Bank. Explanation 1. — For the purposes of this clause, — (i) the expression “beneficial owner of an investment into India” shall mean the beneficial owner of the investor entity incorporated or registered in a country other than a country which shares land border with India; and (ii) the expression “beneficial owner” shall have the same meaning as assigned to it in clause (fa) of sub- section (1) of section 2 of the Prevention of Money-laundering Act, 2002 (15 of 2003), and shall be determined as per the criteria specified under sub-rule (3) of rule 9 of the Prevention of Money-laundering (Maintenance of Records) Rules, 2005, made under the said Act. Explanation 2. —The beneficial ownership of the investment shall be construed to be vested in a country sharing land border with India, where – (a) a citizen of a country sharing land border with India; or (b) an entity incorporated or registered in such country sharing land border with India, has the ability to directly or indirectly, individually or cumulatively with any another citizen or entity, independently or collectively with any another citizen or entity, whether acting together or otherwise, hold rights or entitlements – (A) in excess of the applicable thresholds specified in sub-rule (3) of rule 9 of Prevention of Money- laundering (Maintenance of Records) Rules, 2005 over an investor entity which is incorporated or registered in a country other than a country sharing land border with India; or (B) which enables such citizen or entity or both to exercise control over the investor entity referred above; or (C) which enables such citizen or entity or both to exercise ultimate effective control over the Investee entity in any manner. Explanation 3. — Issue or transfer of “participating interest or right” in oil fields by Indian companies to a person resident outside India would be treated as foreign investment and shall comply with the conditions specified in Schedule I.’. [F. No. 1/4/2026-EM] ALOK TIWARI, Jt. Secy. Note: The Foreign Exchange Management (Non-debt Instruments) Rules, 2019 were published in the Gazette of India, Extraordinary, Part II, Section 3. Sub-section (ii) vide number S.O.3732 (E), dated the 17th October, 2019 and subsequently amended vide the following notification numbers: (i) S.O. 4355 (E), dated the 5th December 2019;[भाग II—खण् ड 3(ii)] भारत का रािपत्र : असाधारण 5 (ii) S.O. 1278 (E), dated the 22nd April, 2020; (iii) S.O. 1374 (E), dated the 27th April, 2020; (iv) S.O. 2442 (E), dated the 27th July, 2020; (v) S.O. 4441 (E), dated the 8th December, 2020; (vi) S.O. 3206 (E), dated the 9th August, 2021; (vii) S.O. 3411 (E), dated the 19th August, 2021; (viii) S.O. 4091 (E), dated the 5th October 2021; (ix) S.O. 4242 (E), dated the 12th October 2021; (x) S.O. 1802 (E), dated 12th April 2022; (xi) S.O. 332 (E), dated 24th January 2024; (xii) S.O. 1361 (E), dated 14th March 2024; (xiii) S.O. 1722 (E), dated 16th April 2024; (xiv) S.O. 3492 (E), dated 16th August 2024; and (xv) S.O. 2549 (E), dated 11th June 2025 Uploaded by Dte. of Printing at Government of India Press, Ring Road, Mayapuri, New Delhi-110064 and Published by the Controller of Publications, Delhi-110054.

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