Executive Summary:
This notification introduces the Foreign Exchange Management Non-debt Instruments Third Amendment Rules, 2020, effective from the date of publication in the Official Gazette (July 27, 2020). The amendment modifies the Foreign Exchange Management Non-debt Instruments Rules, 2019, primarily concerning investments in Air Transport Services. It clarifies the roles of the Reserve Bank and amends sectoral caps and entry routes for investments in the sector.
Key Points / Main Content:
General Amendments:
* The Reserve Bank will administer these rules and may issue directions and clarifications for effective implementation.
* The requirement for consultation with the Central Government has been removed from Rules 3 and 4 of the principal rules.
Air Transport Services Amendments:
* **Scheduled Air Transport Service:** Automatic route is allowed up to 49%; 100% permitted for NRIs.
* **Regional Air Transport Service:** Government route required beyond 49%.
* **Non-Scheduled Air Transport Services, Helicopter services, and Seaplane services:** 100% permitted via the automatic route.
* Foreign airlines can invest in companies operating cargo airlines, helicopter, and seaplane services.
* Foreign investment in Indian companies operating scheduled and non-scheduled air transport services is capped at 49% via the government approval route, subject to SEBI regulations and security clearances.
* Foreign investment in Air India Limited, including that of foreign airlines, shall not exceed 49% either directly or indirectly, except for NRIs who are Indian Nationals where foreign investment is permitted up to 100% under automatic route.
* Civil Aviation FDI is subject to the Aircraft Rules, 1937, as amended.
Impact Analysis:
Reserve Bank of India:
* Impact: Empowered to administer the rules and issue directives.
* Action Required: Formulate and issue necessary directions, circulars, instructions, and clarifications for the effective implementation of these rules.
Companies operating in Air Transport Services (including Air India Limited):
* Impact: Subject to revised FDI limits and entry routes, and required to comply with additional conditions for foreign investment.
* Action Required: Review investment strategies to align with the new regulations, secure necessary government approvals, ensure compliance with SEBI regulations, and obtain security clearances for foreign nationals.
Foreign Investors/Airlines:
* Impact: Face revised FDI limits and entry routes for investment in Indian air transport companies.
* Action Required: Reassess investment plans based on revised caps and entry routes, apply for government approvals, and adhere to SEBI regulations.
Indian Nationals (NRIs):
* Impact: Maintain the possibility of 100% foreign investment via the automatic route.
* Action Required: Stay informed of this opportunity and ensure adherence to the existing investment framework.
Key Entities Referenced
Foreign Exchange Management Act, 1999: An act of the Parliament of India to consolidate and amend the law relating to foreign exchange with the objective of facilitating external trade and payments and for promoting the orderly development and maintenance of foreign exchange market in India.
Foreign Exchange Management Non-debt Instruments Rules, 2019: Rules pertaining to the management of non-debt instruments under the Foreign Exchange Management Act, 1999.
Reserve Bank: Refers to the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), the central bank of India, responsible for administering the Foreign Exchange Management Non-debt Instruments Rules, 2019.
Ministry of Finance: A ministry in the Government of India responsible for the country's finances.
Department of Economic Affairs: A department within the Ministry of Finance responsible for advising the government on economic issues.
New Delhi: The capital of India, where the notification was issued.
Air India Limited: An Indian airline, formerly state-owned. The policy document discusses foreign investment regulations related to Air India.
Aircraft Rules, 1937: Rules pertaining to civil aviation in India, referenced in the context of foreign investment and ownership of airlines.
रजजस्ट्री स.ं डी.एल.- 33004/99 REGD. No. D. L.-33004/99
xxxGIDHxxx
सी.जी.-डी.एल.-xअxx.G-2ID7E0x7x2x 020-220699
CG-DL-E-27072020-220699
असाधारण
EXTRAORDINARY
भाग II—खण्ड 3—उप-खण्ड (ii)
PART II—Section 3—Sub-section (ii)
प्राजधकार स ेप्रकाजित
PUBLISHED BY AUTHORITY
स.ं 2155] नई ददल्ली, सोमिार, जलु ाई 27, 2020/श्रािण 5, 1942
No. 2155] NEW DELHI, MONDAY, JULY 27, 2020/SRAVANA 5, 1942
जित्त मत्रं ालय
(आर्थथक काय यजिभाग)
अजधसचू ना
नई ददल् ली, 27 जुलाई, 2020
का. आ. 2442(अ)-—केंद्रीय सरकार, जिदेिी मुद्रा प्रबंध अजधजनयम, 1999 (1999 का 42) की धारा 46 की उप-
धारा (2) के खंड (कक) तथा (कख) द्वारा प्रदत् त िजत यों का प्रयोग करते हुए, जिदेिी मुद्रा प्रबंध (गैर-ऋण जलखत) जनयम,
2019 का संिोधन करन े के जलए जनम्न जलजखत जनयम बनाती ह,ै अथायत:्-
1. (1) इन जनयमों का संजिप् त नाम जिदेिी मुद्रा प्रबंध (गरै -ऋण जलखत) (तीसरा संिोधन) जनयम, 2020 ह।ै
(2) ये राजपत्र म ेंअपने प्रकािन की तारीख को प्रिृत् त होंगे।
2. जिदेि मुद्रा प्रबधं (गरै -ऋण जलखत) जनयम, 2019 (जजसे इसम ें इसके पश् चात् मलू जनयम कहा गया ह)ै म,ें जनयम
2 के पश् चात् जनम्न जलजखत जनयम अंत:स्ट्थ ाजपत दकया जाएगा, अथायत:-
“2(क) इन जनयमों को ररजि य बैंक द्वारा प्रिाजसत करना:-
(1) यह जनयम ररजिय बैंक द्वारा प्रिाजसत दकए जाएगं े।
(2) इन जनयमों को प्रिाजसत करते समय, ररजिय बैंक ऐसे जनदेि, पररपत्र, अनुदिे , स्ट् पष्ट ीकरण जारी कर सकता ह,ै
जो इन जनयमों के उपबंधों के प्रभािी कायायन् ियन के जलए आिश् यक हो।
3287 GI/2020 (1)2 THE GAZETTE OF INDIA : EXTRAORDINARY [PART II—SEC. 3(ii)]
3. मूल जनयमों म,ें जनयम 3 म ेंिब् द “और केंद्र सरकार के साथ जिचार-जिमि यमें” का लोप दकया जाएगा।
4. मूल जनयमों म,ें जनयम 4 म ेंिब् द “और केंद्र सरकार के साथ जिचार-जिमि यम”ें का लोप दकया जाएगा।
5. मूल जनयमों म,ें सूची 1 म,ें सारणी म:ें-
(i) क्रम स.ं 9.3 और उससे संबंजधत प्रजिजष्ट यों के स्ट् थान पर, जनम्न जलजखत क्रम स.ं तथा प्रजिजष्ट यां रखी जाएंगी,
अथायत:्-
क्र.स.ं ित्रे /गजतजिजध ित्रे ीय कैप प्रजिजष्ट माग य
(1) (2) (3) (4)
“9.3 हिाई पररिहन सिे ाएं
(1) (क) जनधायररत हिाई पररिहन 49% तक स्ट् िचाजलत
सेिा/घरेल ू जनधायररत यात्री एयरलाइन 100% (अजनिासी भारतीयों के जलए
(ख) िेत्रीय हिाई पररिहन सेिा
स्ट् िचाजलत 100% तक)
49% से अजधक सरकारी माग य
(2) गरै अनुसूजचत हिाई पररिहन सेिाएँ 100% स्ट्िचाजलत
(3) हले ीकॉप्टर सेिाओं/समद्रु ी जिमान 100% स्ट्िचाजलत
सेिाओं के जलए नागर जिमानन
महाजनदेिालय (डीजीसीए) के अनुमोदन
की आिश्यकता होती ह ै
रटप्पण: जिमान जनयम, 1937 की अनुसूची XI के अनुसार अनुसूजचत हिाई पररिहन सेिाओं (घरेल ूअनुसूजचत यात्री
एयरलाइन या िेत्रीय हिाई पररिहन सेिा सजहत) को संचाजलत करने के जलए एयर ऑपरेटर प्रमाणपत्र ऐसे कंपनी या जनकाय
कॉपोरेट को ददया जाता ह,ै -
(क) जजसे पंजीकृत दकया गया ह ैऔर उसके व्यापार का प्रमुख स्ट्थान भारत के भीतर ह;ै
(ख) जजसके अध्यि और उसके जनदिे कों म ेंस ेकम स ेकम दो-जतहाई भारत के नागररक ह;ैं और
(ग) जजसका पयायप्त स्ट्िाजमत्ि और प्रभािी जनयंत्रण भारतीय नागररकों म ेंजनजहत ह।ै";
(ii) क्रम स.ं 9.5 और उसके साथ संबंजधत प्रजिजियों के जलए, जनम्नजलजखत क्रम स.ं और प्रजिजियों को रखा जाएगा, अथायत:्-
(1) (2)
“9.5 अन्य ित”े
(क) हिाई पररिहन सेिाओं म.ें घरेलू अनुसूजचत यात्री एयरलाइन, गैर
अनुसूजचत हिाई पररिहन सेिा, हजे लकॉप्टर और समुद्री जिमान सेिाएं
सजम् मजलत होंगी।
(ख) जिदेिी एयरलाइनों को ऊपर उजल्लजखत सीमा और प्रििे मागों के
अनुसार कागो एयरलाइंस, हले ीकॉप्टर और समुद्री जिमान सेिाओं का संचालन
करने िाली कंपजनयों की इदिटी में भाग लने े की अनुमजत ह।ै[भाग II—खण् ड 3(ii)] भारत का राजपत्र : असाधारण 3
(ग) जिदेिी एयरलाइनों को अनसु ूजचत और गरै -अनुसूजचत हिाई पररिहन
सेिाओं का संचालन कर रही, भारतीय कंपजनयों की पूंजी में उनकी पेड-अप
पूंजी की 49 प्रजतित तक, जनम्नजलजखत ितों के अधीन जनिेि करने की अनुमजत
ह,ै अथायत:्-
(i) इसे सरकार के अनुमोदन माग यके अधीन बनाया गया ह,ै
(ii) 49 प्रजतित की सीमा एफडीआई और एफआईआई/एफपीआई जनिेि को कम करेगी,
(iii) जनिेि के जलए िेयर और अजधग्रहण (एसएएसटी) जिजनयमों, अन्य लाग ू जनयम और
जिजनयम के साथ साथ पूंजी और प्रकटीकरण आिश्यकता (आईसीडीआर)
जिजनयम/पयायप्त अजधग्रहण जैसे मामलों म ें भारतीय प्रजतभूजत और जिजनमय बोडय (सेबी)
के संबंजधत जिजनयमों का पालन करन े की आिश्यकता होगी,
(iv) ऐसे जनिेि के पररणामस्ट् िरूपप भारतीय अनुसूजचत और गैर-अनुसूजचत हिाई पररिहन
सेिाओं से जुडे होने की संभािना िाले सभी जिदेिी नागररकों को पररजनयोजन से पूिय
सुरिा के दजृिकोण से अनुमजत प्रदान की जाएगी, और
(v) इस तरह के जनिेि के पररणामस्ट्िरूपप भारत में आयात दकए जाने िाले सभी तकनीकी
उपकरणों को नागर जिमानन मंत्रालय के संबंजधत प्राजधकरण से मंजूरी की आिश्यकता
होगी।
(घ) उपरोक्त ितों के अजतररक्त, मेससय एयर इंजडया जलजमटेड म ें जिदेिी जनिेि जनम्नजलजखत
ितों के अधीन होगा, अथायत:-
(i) मेससय एयर इंजडया जलजमटेड म ें जिदेिी जनिेि, जजसम ें एनआरआई जो भारतीय नागररक
ह ैं के मामलों को छोडकर, जहां स्ट्िचाजलत माग य के अधीन जिदिे ी जनिेि म ें 100 प्रजतित तक की
अनुमजत िाजमल ह,ै प्रत्यि या अप्रत्यि रूपप स े जिदेिी एयरलाइनों की प्रजतितता 49 प्रजतित स े
अजधक नहीं होंगी, ।
(ii) मेससय एयर इंजडया जलजमटेड के पयायप्त स्ट्िाजमत्ि और प्रभािी जनयंत्रण िायुयान जनयम,
1937 के अनुसार भारतीय नागररकों म ें जनजहत रहगे ा।
(ङ) नागर जिमानन म ें एफडीआई समय-समय पर यथा सिं ोजधत जिमान जनयामक, 1937 के
प्रािधानों के अनुसार दकया जाएगा।
रटप्पण:
(i) ऊपर उजल्लजखत क्रम संख्या 9.2 और 9.3 में एफडीआई सीमा या प्रिेि मागय उस जस्ट्थजत
में लागू होंग,े जब जिदेिी एयरलाइन द्वारा कोई जनिेि नहीं होगा।
(ii) मेससय एयर इंजडया जलजमटेड सजहत हिाई पररिहन सेिाओं में काम करने िाली कंपजनयों
में जिदेिी एयरलाइंस द्वारा कोई भी जनिेि, ऊपर उजल्लजखत प्रजिजि (ख) और (ग) के
अधीन होगा।4 THE GAZETTE OF INDIA : EXTRAORDINARY [PART II—SEC. 3(ii)]
(iii) 100% तक की एफडीआई स े संबंजधत उन एनआरआई जो भारतीय नागररक हैं, के जलए
व्यिस्ट्था, उपरोक्त प्रजिजि (ग) (ii) और (घ) में जिजनर्ददि जनिेि व्यिस्ट्था के अनुसार
जारी रहगे ी।"
[फा.सं. 01/05/ईएम/2019]
आनंद मोहन बजाज, अपर सजचि
रटप्पणी: मलू जनयम भारत के राजपत्र, असाधारण, भाग II, खंड 3, उप-खंड (ii) में सं.का.आ. 3732 (अ), तारीख
17 अटूबर, 2019 द्वारा प्रकाजित दकए गए थ े और सं.का.आ. 4355 (अ), तारीख 5 ददसंबर 2019, का.आ.1278 (अ),
तारीख 22 अप्रलै , 2020 और का.आ.1374 (अ), तारीख 27 अप्रैल, 2020 द्वारा पश्चातिती संिोधन दकए गए।
MINISTRY OF FINANCE
(Department of Economic Affairs)
NOTIFICATION
New Delhi, the 27th July , 2020
S.O. 2442 (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) (Third
Amendment) Rules, 2020.
(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 (hereinafter
referred to as the principal rules), after rule 2, the following rule shall be inserted, namely:-
“2(A). Reserve Bank to administer these rules. -
(1)These rules shall be administered by the Reserve Bank.
(2)While administrating these rules, the Reserve Bank may interpret and issue such directions,
circulars, instructions, clarifications, as it may deem necessary, for effective implementation of
the provisions of these rules.”
3. In the principal rules, in rule 3, the words “and in consultation with the Central Government” shall
be omitted.
4. In the principal rules, in rule 4, the words “and in consultation with the Central Government” shall
be omitted.
5. In the principal rules, in Schedule 1, in the Table,-
(i) for serial number 9.3 and the entries relating thereto, the following serial number and entries shall
be substituted, namely:-
S. No. Sector/Activity Sectoral Cap Entry Route
(1) (2) (3) (4)
“9.3 Air Transport Services[भाग II—खण् ड 3(ii)] भारत का राजपत्र : असाधारण 5
(1) (a) Scheduled Air Transport Automatic up to 49%
Service/ Domestic Scheduled 100% (Automatic up to 100%
Passenger Airline for NRIs)
(b) Regional Air Transport Government route
Service beyond 49%
(2)Non-Scheduled Air Transport 100% Automatic
Services
(3)Helicopter services/seaplane 100% Automatic
services requiring Directorate
General of Civil Aviation
(DGCA) approval
Note: As per Schedule XI of the Aircraft Rules, 1937, Air Operator Certificate to operate Scheduled
Air Transport Services (including Domestic Scheduled Passenger Airline or Regional Air Transport
Service) is granted to such company or a body corporate, -
(a) which is registered and has its principal place of business within India;
(b) whose Chairman and at least two-thirds of its Directors are citizens of India; and
(c) whose substantial ownership and effective control is vested in Indian nationals.” ;
(ii) for serial number 9.5 and the entries relating thereto, the following serial number and entries shall
be substituted, namely:-
(1) (2)
“9.5 Other Conditions”
(a) Air Transport Services shall include Domestic Scheduled Passenger
Airlines, Non-Scheduled Air Transport Services, helicopter and seaplane
services.
(b) Foreign airlines are allowed to participate in the equity of companies
operating Cargo airlines, helicopter and seaplane services, as per the limits
and entry routes mentioned above.
(c) Foreign airlines are allowed to invest in the capital of Indian
companies, operating scheduled and non-scheduled air transport services, up
to the limit of 49 per cent of their paid-up capital, subject to the following
conditions, namely :-
(i) it is made under the Government approval route,
(ii) the 49 per cent limit will subsume FDI and FII/FPI investment,
(iii) the investments so made would need to comply with the relevant
regulations of the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI), such as the
Issue of Capital and Disclosure Requirements (ICDR)
Regulations/Substantial Acquisition of Shares and Takeovers (SAST)
Regulations, as well as other applicable rules and regulations,
(iv) all foreign nationals likely to be associated with Indian scheduled and
non-scheduled air transport services, as a result of such investment shall be
cleared from security view point before deployment, and
(v) all technical equipment that might be imported into India as a result
of such investment shall require clearance from the relevant authority in the
Ministry of Civil Aviation.6 THE GAZETTE OF INDIA : EXTRAORDINARY [PART II—SEC. 3(ii)]
(d) In addition to the above conditions, foreign investment in M/s Air
India Limited shall be subject to the following conditions, namely :-
(i) foreign investments in M/s Air India Limited, including that of
foreign airlines shall not exceed 49 per cent either directly or indirectly
except in case of those NRIs, who are Indian Nationals, where foreign
investments is permitted up to 100 per cent under automatic route.
(ii) substantial ownership and effective control of M/s Air India Limited
shall continue to be vested in Indian Nationals as stipulated in Aircraft Rules,
1937.
(e) FDI in Civil Aviation shall be subject to provisions of the Aircraft
Rules, 1937, as amended from time to time.
Note:
(i) The FDI limits or entry routes mentioned at serial numbers 9.2 and
9.3 above, are applicable in the situation where there is no investment
by foreign airline.
(ii) Any investment by foreign airlines in companies operating in Air
Transport Services, including in M/s Air India Limited, shall be
subject to entries (b) and (c) above.
(iii) The dispensation for those NRIs, who are Indian Nationals, regarding
FDI up to 100 per cent will continue in respect of the investment
regime specified at entries (c) (ii) and (d) above.”
[F. No. 01/05/EM/2019]
ANAND MOHAN BAJAJ, Addl. Secy.
Note: The principal rules 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 numbers S.O. 4355 (E), dated the 5th December 2019, S.O. 1278 (E), dated the 22nd April, 2020
and S.O. 1374 (E), dated the 27th April, 2020.
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.