FDI realities: A decade on, policy for multi-brand retail remains on paper

Ten years after FDI in multi-brand retail was allowed, it remains largely inactive. Meanwhile, e-commerce giants like Amazon and Flipkart continue to reshape India's rapidly evolving retail market

“Out of the question.” That was Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal’s reply to Business Standard in an interview a few days ago when asked about the scope for foreign direct investment (FDI) liberalisation in multi-brand retail. This remark coincides with India celebrating 10 years of its signature scheme: Make in India.

It’s a different matter that FDI in multi-brand retail is already allowed, but has remained only on paper the last 10 years. The Congress-led United Progressive Alliance government announced a multi-brand retail policy in 2012, allowing up to 51 per cent FDI. However, while international retail