SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth | SDG 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure
Institutions: Reserve Bank of India (RBI) | Ministry of Finance | Ministry of Commerce and Industry
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has released the provisional results of its annual foreign investment census (FLA), tracking the cross-border investment positions of over 45,700 Indian companies and entities as of end-March 2025. The census confirmed India’s rising global financial integration.
Key findings show significant trends in India’s international investment position:
Total FDI (Foreign Direct Investment) Value: The total inward investment (FDI) into India, calculated at market value, reached ₹68.76 lakh crore (approximately US$ 803 billion).
Outward Investment (ODI) Surge: The growth of Indian companies investing abroad (ODI) at 17.9% in Rupee terms was faster than the growth of foreign investment coming into India (FDI) at 11.1% during 2024-25.
Investment Composition: The vast majority of FDI (98.0%) was captured through unlisted companies, reflecting strong private and startup investment. The Manufacturing sector attracted the largest share of total FDI at 48.4%.
Top Sources: The United States and Singapore were the two largest sources, collectively contributing over one-third of India’s FDI.
This census confirms that India’s focus on Manufacturing is translating into investment, while the strong ODI growth signals the increasing global integration and competitiveness of Indian corporations. The data provides crucial inputs for the Ministry of Finance and RBI for drafting balance of payments policy, managing exchange rate movements, and formulating investment promotion strategies.
What are Foreign Liabilities and Assets (FLA)? → Foreign Liabilities and Assets (FLA) is essentially the national balance sheet of India’s international financial position. The annual FLA census captures the total market value of all financial claims and obligations that Indian residents and entities have with people or businesses outside of India. This includes inward investments (like FDI) and outward investments (ODI), as well as loans, trade credits, and currency holdings. Crucially, FLA figures differ from annual investment flows because they incorporate market value fluctuations due to changes in price and exchange rates.
Follow the full news here: Census on Foreign Liabilities and Assets of Indian Direct Investment Entities for 2024-25