Blog

Central Government notifies Model Standing Orders, 2026

Notification attached

Invest India, the National Investment Promotion and Facilitation Agency under the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), Ministry of Commerce and Industry, has facilitated the grounding of 60 projects worth over USD 6.1 billion during Financial Year 2025–26. These investments span 14 states and are estimated to generate more than 31,000 potential jobs, reflecting sustained and deepening global confidence in India as a preferred investment destination.

Approximately 42 per cent of the total grounded investment value originates from European nations, reinforcing strengthening India-Europe economic linkages. Continued participation from the United States, Japan, South Korea, Australia, and other key source markets affirms broad-based international confidence in India’s regulatory environment and manufacturing capabilities. Emerging source nations such as Brazil, New Zealand, and Canada indicate diversification in the country’s investment base.

Commenting on India’s policy environment, Secretary, DPIIT, Shri Amardeep Singh Bhatia said, “India’s investment momentum is a direct outcome of policy clarity, institutional commitment, and the trust global investors place in our systems. The USD 6.1 billion grounded by Invest India in FY 2025–26 reflects the strength of India’s regulatory environment and the depth of its economic transformation. DPIIT remains committed to further simplifying processes and ensuring that investments translate into jobs, innovation, and long-term value.”

Invest India has strengthened end-to-end facilitation across the investment lifecycle, from early-stage advisory to post-investment aftercare. It has adopted a network-led ecosystem approach by engaging with investors’ suppliers, buyers, and extended value chains to build integrated industrial ecosystems. The agency is also supporting foreign companies exploring alternate entry routes such as joint ventures by facilitating partnerships with credible domestic players.

These interventions have resulted in improved investment conversion and scale. Grounded investments have registered nearly threefold growth over FY 2024–25, while the average deal size has increased by 1.8 times, indicating a shift towards higher-value investments.

MD & CEO, Invest India, Ms. Nivruti Rai said, “These outcomes reflect a shift in Invest India’s role towards becoming a strategic investment partner. The threefold growth in grounded investments and the creation of over 31,000 jobs demonstrate the impact of coordinated policy support, institutional agility, and investor confidence. Invest India remains committed to sustaining this momentum as India progresses towards Viksit Bharat 2047.”

Chemicals, Pharmaceuticals & Biotechnology, and Food Processing sectors account for approximately 65 per cent of grounded investments, driven by high-value projects aligned with India’s manufacturing and value-addition priorities. Emerging sectors such as Electronics System Design and Manufacturing (ESDM), Aerospace & Defence, and Auto/EV also recorded significant activity.

FY 2025–26 witnessed continued geographic diversification of investments across states. Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, and Andhra Pradesh emerged as key hubs driven by high-value projects, while Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh recorded strong grounding activity. Established destinations such as Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Haryana, and Delhi continued to anchor major investment inflows. The grounding of projects in Assam, Bihar, and Sikkim indicates the broadening of the investment landscape. In terms of employment generation, Madhya Pradesh emerged as the leading state, followed by Andhra Pradesh, Rajasthan, Telangana, and Maharashtra.

These trends reflect the cumulative impact of India’s landmark policy initiatives, including Make in India, Production Linked Incentive (PLI) Schemes across 14 key sectors, and sustained infrastructure development programmes, which have strengthened India’s position as a globally competitive and reliable manufacturing destination.

About Invest India

Invest India is the National Investment Promotion and Facilitation Agency of the Government of India, established in 2009 as a not-for-profit company under DPIIT, Ministry of Commerce & Industry. Supported by a unique partnership between the Central and State Governments and industry associations, Invest India serves as the first point of contact for global and domestic investors, providing comprehensive end-to-end support across the investment lifecycle — from pre-investment advisory and project facilitation to aftercare and expansion support. The agency focuses on high-impact sectors, including Electronics & Semiconductors, Renewable Energy, Electric Vehicles, Capital Goods, Textiles, Food & Agriculture, Pharmaceuticals, Chemicals & Critical Minerals, and Infrastructure. For further information, please visit: www.investindia.gov.in

The conclusion of the India–New Zealand Free Trade Agreement (FTA) marks a significant milestone in India’s global outreach in traditional medicine and holistic healthcare, placing Ayush systems at the centre of a new framework for international cooperation. The forward-looking Agreement not only expands India’s trade footprint but also opens unprecedented opportunities for global recognition, mobility, and institutional collaboration for India’s traditional systems of medicine. The landmark Agreement was formally signed by Piyush Goyal, Union Minister of Commerce and Industry, and Todd McClay, New Zealand’s Minister for Trade and Investment, underscoring the shared commitment of both nations to deepen economic and knowledge partnerships.

For the first time, New Zealand has agreed to a dedicated Health and Traditional Medicine Annexe under an FTA with India, creating an enabling environment for trade in Ayurveda, yoga, and other traditional medicine services. This landmark provision formally acknowledges India’s rich wellness heritage and positions Ayush as a contemporary, globally relevant healthcare solution, alongside indigenous Māori health practices.

Global Recognition and New Markets for Ayush Services

The Agreement facilitates market access across a wide range of service sectors, creating new opportunities for Indian Ayush practitioners, wellness institutions and service providers to engage with the New Zealand market. By promoting cooperation in Ayurveda, Yoga, Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha, Sowa-Rigpa and Homoeopathy, the FTA strengthens India’s leadership in preventive, promotive and integrative healthcare models.

The framework is expected to boost medical value travel, foster institutional partnerships, encourage research collaboration and support the international expansion of India’s wellness ecosystem.

Mobility Pathways for Ayush and Wellness Professionals

A key outcome of the Agreement is the creation of structured mobility pathways for skilled Indian professionals. A dedicated visa quota will enable Ayush practitioners and Yoga instructors, along with other Indian cultural and knowledge professionals, to work in New Zealand for extended durations. This provision reinforces India’s emergence as a global supplier of skilled wellness professionals while creating new employment avenues rooted in India’s traditional knowledge systems.

Strengthening Cooperation in Traditional Knowledge and Wellness

The FTA also institutionalises technical cooperation in Ayush and traditional knowledge systems, laying the foundation for long-term collaboration in education, training, standards development and wellness services. By integrating traditional medicine into a modern trade framework, the Agreement reflects a shared commitment to sustainable health practices and people-centric development.

The India–New Zealand Free Trade Agreement represents a defining step in taking Ayush from national heritage to global healthcare mainstream. By opening international markets, enabling professional mobility and fostering cross-cultural collaboration, the Agreement reinforces India’s vision of positioning Ayush as a pillar of global wellness and holistic health.

The India New Zealand Free Trade Agreement (FTA) was signed on 27 April, 2026 in New Delhi.  The Ministry of Textiles welcomes the landmark trade agreement, reflecting a future ready partnership built on trust , growth and shared prosperity.

The New Zealand market provides an opportunity for India’s exports of textiles, apparel and madeups.  New Zealand’s global imports in these three sub categories is $0.33 billion, $1.27 billion and $0.33 billion respectively. With a population of 5.3 million, concentrated around large urban centres and around a $52,000 per capita income, there is immense scope for high value exports.

The apparel sector comprises 65% share of global imports of New Zealand. The key sub sectors of imports under the apparel sector are casual wear (jeans, T-shirts, hoodies, relaxed tops, casual dresses), jackets, formal wear and sports wear. Cotton apparel comprises 45% of these imports followed by MMF at 36%.

Currently, New Zealand has 575 dutiable MFN tariff lines with a 5% duty on some wool, MMF and madeups and a 10% duty on carpets, some MMF and apparel.  Hence an FTA would lower the cost of Indian exports.

India’s bilateral exports to New Zealand stands at $0.65 billion with the textiles sector accounting for $0.1billion. India’s exports in the textiles, apparel and made up sector to New Zealand has shown a positive trend over the last decade. Positive growth was shown in all the sub sectors namely apparel, made ups, carpets, fibre, yarn and fabrics.  Based on the trends in the sector, some of the potential areas of growth in the sector for Indian exports are apparel (MMF,jute, linen,wool), Madeups (MMF, Jute,linen), Carpets (MMF), fibres (MMF, silk), yarn (MMF, cotton), Fabric (wool,jute,linen), handicraft and handloom.

The FTA also opens up the door to collaborate with textile design houses and fashion technology institutes. There is a need to leverage this FTA by participating in major textile fairs and exhibitions. New Zealand remains an important market and the FTA would enable India to enhance its exports.