Centre to tweak FDI rules for LIC

Deposits in bank accounts opened under the Jan Dhan scheme, launched about seven and half years ago by the government, have crossed the Rs 1.5 lakh crore mark. The total balance in over 44.23 crore Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana accounts was at Rs 1.5 lakh crore at December end. Of this, 34.9 crore accounts were with the PSBs, 8.05 crore with regional rural banks, and 1.28 crore with private sector banks.

New Delhi, Jan. 9: The Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) will soon try to approach the Union Cabinet to seek its approval on changes in the FDI policy to facilitate disinvestment of the country’s largest insurer LIC, a top government official said on Sunday.

DPIIT Secretary Anurag Jain said the issue has been discussed with the Department of Financial Services and Department of Investment and Public Asset Management (DIPAM) and all have reached unanimity.

“Now it is a matter of drafting it out. We will try that soon we will make the Cabinet note, after holding inter ministerial consultation, (to) take the approval... It will be very soon,” Jain told reporters here.

The Finance Minister has directed that the disinvestment has to be completed during the current financial year, “so we also have to work at that pace,” he added.

According to the current foreign direct investment (FDI) policy, 74 per cent foreign investment is permitted under the automatic route in the insurance sector. However, these rules do not apply to the Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC), which is administered through a separate LIC Act.

As per Sebi rules, both foreign portfolio investment (FPI) and FDI are permitted under public offer. However, sources said since the LIC Act has no provision for foreign investments, there is a need to align the proposed LIC IPO with Sebi norms regarding foreign investor participation.

The Cabinet had in July last year approved the initial public offering (IPO) of LIC and the stake-sale is being planned in the current March quarter.

When asked about the issue of direct overseas listing of Indian startups, the secretary said the department is still examining the matter to understand exactly what the startups want.

“To my mind there is nothing which stops them from doing (that). Why do they want to go outside and list, what are the factors which are not there? We are engaged in the discussion with the industry leaders.