The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has published the tentative findings of its 2024-25 census of foreign liabilities and assets report (FLA) in a major update to the foreign investment environment of India. As per the results, the two countries (United States and Singapore) constituted more than one-third of the total Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) inflow to India in the financial year 2024–25.

The latest census by the RBI shows how international investors have maintained confidence in India’s economy, particularly with the increased economic opportunities and the policy reforms to welcome foreign investors.

Bitcoin is encrypted by cryptographic algorithms, which is what makes it secure to users. <|human|> Bitcoin is secured to users through cryptographic algorithms, and it is these algorithms that make it secure.

• RBI conducted the annual FLA census of 45,702 entities responding to it.

• One of them reported FDI and/or Overseas Direct Investment (ODI) in balance sheets on 41,517 companies by March 2025.

• The number of entities that had joined the last census was about 33,637, with 7,880 companies being new in this census year.

• More than three-fourths of the reporting inward FDI were subsidiaries of foreign companies; that is, a single foreign investor owned over 50 percent of their stock.

• More than one-third of the aggregate FDI inflows to India comprised the United States and Singapore.

• Other top FDI contributors were Mauritius, the United Kingdom, and the Netherlands.

U.S. and Singapore Top Inflows in India FDI

The United States and Singapore remained the market leaders in terms of the FDI within India as per the RBI census of FY25. Their combined contribution to the aggregate FDI inflows was more than 33 percent, which once again reconfirms that these two countries have been and continue to have great interest in India as their economy grows.

• Singapore has been among the leading entry points into India via FDI in the country since it has the most attractive tax treaties and is considered a key financial center in the world.

• The US, with great corporate interest in the technology, manufacturing, and renewable energy sectors, is intensifying its investment mix in India.

The trend reflects the increasing significance of India as a strategic investment location in the Asia-Pacific region.

Most of the FDI is made via unlisted entities

The RBI report also found out that more than 97 percent of Indian direct investment (DI) entities answering the survey were unlisted until March 2025.

These companies are thought to have controlled the majority of FDI equity capital in India even though unlisted, and this indicated the high involvement of the private players and startups in bringing about foreign investments.

This trend shows that the ecosystem has become more mature, and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and tech-based startups are increasingly contributing to attracting global investments in India.

Sectoral Impact and Economic Significance

The U.S. and Singapore’s domination in FDI inflow in India is in line with the trends in technology, infrastructure, financial services, and manufacturing.

Some of the sectors that have been impacted positively due to these investments include:

• Information technology and services.

• Digital Infrastructure and Telecommunications.

• Electric Mobility and Renewable Energy.

• Financial Technology (FinTech)

• Pharmaceuticals and Healthcare.

These inflows do not only enhance the industrial base of India but also lead to the generation of employment, technology transfer, and innovation-based growth.

This is because India is an emerging international hub of FDI

India has been experiencing continuous FDI inflows due to its strong economic fundamentals and policy reforms as well as a conducive investment environment.

Government programs such as

• Make in India,

• Production-Linked Incentive (PLI) Schemes, and

• Digital India Mission

have helped to raise investor confidence to a tremendous extent.

The RBI census statistics also confirm that India continues to be among the fastest-growing large economies, which are being attracted by various investors despite the financial uncertainties in the world.

 Interpreting the FLA Census of RBI

The Reserve Bank of India co-borders the Foreign Liabilities and Assets (FLA) census on a yearly basis to record the cross-border liabilities and assets of the Indian companies.

It includes:

Inward FDI investments by foreign parties.

Outward ODI investments by the Indian companies in foreign countries.

The survey assists the RBI in evaluating the external financial situation, the dynamics of capital flows, and the foreign investment pattern in India, which is very informative to the policymakers and economists.

 Expert Insights

The FDI concentration in the developed economies of the FDI of the U.S. and Singapore, according to economists and analysts, is a demonstration of the reliability of India as a long-term investment destination.

“Both the United States and Singapore have always been leading investors in India. Their increasing role underscores the fact that India will be a worldwide manufacturing hub and a digital innovation hub.

They also contributed that the growing rate of unlisted FDI entities reflects the growing status of the startups, the private equity, and the venture capital in creating the India growth story.

 Way Forward

Due to the fact that India is on its road to becoming a 5 trillion economy, foreign investment will be at the forefront of promoting industrial growth, creation of employment, and development of infrastructure.

According to the RBI FDI census, the sources of investment are well diversified, yet the policymakers could consider more permanent strategic investors to enter the market in such emerging fields as AI, green energy, semiconductor production, and digital finance.

The future of FY26 and beyond is very bright, as the international confidence in the economy of India is increasing.

 Conclusion

The FY25 FDI census of the RBI is a very bright picture of the economic strength and attractiveness of India in the world. India remains a destination of choice for international investors given that the U.S. and Singapore contribute more than a third of the total FDI inflows.

With the further increase in reforms and the modernization of industries, the country will experience even more foreign involvement, which will establish it as a key driver of world development in the next decade.

Metadata (SEO): Suggested.

Meta Title: The U.S. and Singapore contribute a third of the total in FY25: RBI Census Report.

Meta Description: According to FY25 census by RBI, the U.S. and Singapore had more than one-third of the FDI in India. Understand major knowledge, trends and economic influences of foreign investments.

Keywords of focus: FDI in India 2025, India RBI FDI census report, U.S.-Singapore FDI share, India foreign investment data, and RBI foreign liabilities and assets 2025.