India's FDI Hits a Record $94.53 Billion in 2025-26: What FDI Is and How India Attracts It
The Ministry of Commerce and Industry said India received its highest-ever yearly Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) of $94.53 billion in 2025-26 (money that foreign companies put into Indian businesses to own and run them).
Total FDI received over 12 years, from 2014-15 to 2025-26, reached $843 billion. The government said this is 169% more than the FDI received in the 12 years before that.
The numbers were released to mark 12 years of the Make in India programme, which was launched on 25 September 2014.
Under the Production Linked Incentive (PLI) schemes, as of 31 March 2026, companies had made actual investment of ₹2.40 lakh crore, produced or sold goods worth ₹23.8 lakh crore, exported ₹15.2 lakh crore and created over 14.6 lakh direct and indirect jobs.
Electronics production grew from about ₹1.9 lakh crore (2014-15) to ₹13.11 lakh crore (2025-26). Mobile phone production grew from ₹18,000 crore to ₹6.27 lakh crore in the same period.
The government also listed support systems: the National Single Window System (which brings 327 central and 3,452 state approvals to one place) and the India Industrial Land Bank (4,220 industrial parks over 6.98 lakh hectares).
Foreign Direct Investment (FDI): Concepts and India's Policy Framework
Foreign Direct Investment, or FDI, is money that a foreign company or person puts into a business in another country to own a lasting share in it and have a say in how it runs. For example, when a Japanese car company builds a factory in India, or buys a big stake in an Indian company, that is FDI. The key idea is long-term ownership and control, not just buying shares to sell them later for a quick profit. FDI brings in money, and often also technology, skills and jobs.
India's record FDI of $94.53 billion in 2025-26 is gross FDI, which includes equity, reinvested earnings and other capital. The government linked this rise to its easing of FDI rules, such as 100% automatic route in most sectors. At the same time, high repatriation shows why students must look at both gross and net FDI.
Make in India
Make in India is a central government programme launched on 25 September 2014 to turn India into a global manufacturing hub. It aims to attract investment, especially FDI, build world-class infrastructure, protect intellectual property and create jobs. The nodal department is DPIIT under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry. Its symbol is a lion made of gears.
The record FDI data was released to mark 12 years of Make in India. The government presented the FDI rise and the growth in electronics and mobile phone production as key results of the programme.
Production Linked Incentive (PLI) Scheme
The PLI scheme gives companies cash rewards based on how much extra they produce and sell in India, compared to a base year. So a company earns the incentive only when it actually makes more goods here. The goal is to boost domestic manufacturing, reduce imports and increase exports. It started with mobile phones and electronic components in 2020 and was later widened.
The government highlighted PLI results alongside the FDI record. Many foreign electronics and mobile makers set up or expanded plants in India under PLI, which adds to FDI inflows.
- FDI in 2025-26: $94.53 billion (highest-ever yearly inflow, gross)
- Cumulative FDI 2014-15 to 2025-26: $843 billion, 169% more than the previous 12 years
- Net FDI 2025-26 (RBI data): about $7.65 billion; repatriation and disinvestment: about $53.58 billion
- Make in India launched: 25 September 2014
- PLI (as of 31 March 2026): investment ₹2.40 lakh crore; production/sales ₹23.8 lakh crore; exports ₹15.2 lakh crore; 14.6 lakh+ jobs
- Electronics production: about ₹1.9 lakh crore (2014-15) → ₹13.11 lakh crore (2025-26)
- Mobile phone production: ₹18,000 crore → ₹6.27 lakh crore
- National Single Window System: 327 central and 3,452 state approvals
- India Industrial Land Bank: 4,220 industrial parks over 6.98 lakh hectares
- FDI vs FPI threshold: 10% of a listed company