New data raises concerns over India as an investment destination. Trade pacts can offer a solution

In 2024-25, foreign direct investment (gross) into India stood at $81 billion. But net FDI — essentially the difference between direct investment to and that by India — fell to just $353 million, down from $10.1 billion in the previous year. The reasons for this stunning collapse can be traced to an increase in investments by Indian firms abroad and greater repatriation/disinvestment by foreign firms from the country. Coming at a time of subdued domestic private investments, and when the country is trying to emerge as an attractive destination for firms moving operations out of China and integrate itself to…