Master Circular on Foreign Investment in India (2009)
No longer current — withdrawn, no replacement on file yet
Source: Reserve Bank of India · RBI/2009-10/22 · issued 01 Jul 2009 · ~1 min read
Quick answerRBI consolidated all rules on foreign investment in India into one master circular, covering FDI, portfolio investments, venture capital, and immovable property. It applies to Category-I AD banks and was valid until July 1, 2010, when it was replaced.
What changed
RBI issued Master Circular No.2/2009-10 on July 1, 2009, consolidating all existing instructions on foreign investment in India under FEMA. It covered FDI, portfolio investments, venture capital, and acquisition of immovable property, with a sunset clause of one year.
What it means for you
This circular provided a single reference for banks handling foreign investment transactions, reducing confusion from multiple circulars. Banks had to ensure compliance with the consolidated rules until the circular was withdrawn on July 1, 2010.
Historical instruction — do not use for current compliance. This is what was required at the time; it no longer reflects current RBI requirements. If no replacement rule is linked above, that only means none is recorded on our register yet — it does not prove no later applicable rule exists. Confirm on the official RBI source below.
What banks were required to do at the time
Review the master circular for all foreign investment compliance requirements.
Ensure all Category-I AD bank staff are trained on the consolidated rules.
Monitor the sunset date and prepare for the updated circular by July 1, 2010.
Maintain records of transactions under FDI, portfolio, and immovable property rules.
Who it affects
All Category-I Authorised Dealer banks, Indian companies receiving foreign investment, Foreign investors (FIIs, NRIs, VCFs), Entities acquiring immovable property in India
❓ Common questions
Regulatory timeline
Decoded by BankPulse2026-06-19 09:44 IST
Status change: withdrawn03 Aug 2026, 04:00 IST
Built from our lineage records — each fact carries its provenance; missing history simply is not shown (never guessed).
What is the legal basis for this master circular?
It is issued under Section 6 of FEMA, 1999, read with notifications FEMA 20, 21, 22, and 24 of 2000.
Does this circular cover investments from Nepal and Bhutan?
Yes, Section I includes specific provisions for investments from Nepal and Bhutan.
When did this circular expire?
It had a sunset clause and stood withdrawn on July 1, 2010, replaced by an updated master circular.
📜 Read the original circular — full text as issued by RBI
RBI/2009-10/22
Master Circular No.2/2009-10
July 01, 2009
To,
All Category - I Authorised Dealer banks
Madam / Sir,
Master Circular on Foreign Investment in India
Foreign investment in India is governed by sub-section (3) of Section 6 of the Foreign Exchange Management Act, 1999 read with Notification No. FEMA 20/2000-RB dated May 3, 2000, as amended from time to time. The regulatory framework and instructions issued by the Reserve Bank have been compiled in this Master Circular. The list of underlying circulars/notifications is furnished in Appendix. In addition to the above, this Master Circular also covers the following areas:
(i) Acquisition of immovable property which is regulated in terms of Section 6(3) (i) of Foreign Exchange Management Act, 1999 read with Notification No. FEMA 21/ 2000-RB dated May 3, 2000;
(ii) Establishment of Branch/Liaison Office in India, which is regulated in terms of Section 6(6) of Foreign Exchange Management Act, 1999 read with Notification No. FEMA 22/ 2000-RB dated May 3, 2000; and
(iii) Investment in capital of partnership firms or proprietary concern which is regulated in terms of Section 2(h) of Section 47 of Foreign Exchange Management Act, 1999, read with Notification No. FEMA 24/2000-RB dated May 3, 2000.
2. This Master Circular is being issued with a sunset clause of one year. This circular will stand withdrawn on July 1, 2010 and be replaced by an updated Master Circular on the subject.
Yours faithfully,
(Salim Gangadharan)
Chief General Manager-in-Charge
Part – I
Reproduced for reference with acknowledgment — Source: Reserve Bank of India · RBI/2009-10/22 · issued 01 Jul 2009. The plain-English explanation above is BankPulse’s own independent summary.
Discuss this circular with fellow bankers — reply, upvote what helps, report what doesn’t belong. Be professional; no client data. Views are the commenter’s own, not BankPulse’s.
BankPulse Compliance Evidence Pack — generated 03 Aug 2026 · status cross-checked against RBI’s official withdrawal register (refreshed weekly). Official RBI source: https://www.rbi.org.in/Scripts/NotificationUser.aspx?Id=5094&Mode=0 — Plain-English summary by BankPulse (bankpulse.ai), reviewed by our expert reviewer, CA Amit Jain. Independent platform, not affiliated with the Reserve Bank of India; is our own plain-English paraphrase, not RBI’s original wording.
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