By Naraway
In this article
Companies come to India by very different doors. Some sell from abroad and never register here. Some open an office, some a subsidiary, some a capability centre with thousands of staff. Each door has its own rules, and most of the costly mistakes happen where two of them meet.
Sources: DPIIT via India Briefing; MCA via IBEF; Zinnov-Nasscom; DPIIT Press Notes.
This page maps Naraway's research on entering India in 2026. Every piece is built on primary data, from RBI's compounding orders to DPIIT's investment statistics, and each answers one question.
Why India, and How It Compares
- India grows at 7%, pays 800 million times a day: the 2026 data
- India vs Vietnam: FDI, manufacturing and what the numbers measure
- India's 2026 ad market: three estimates, one direction
Trade Routes Into India
- India-UK trade agreement: what changed on 15 July 2026
- India-UAE CEPA: US$101 billion of trade and the rules of origin
- India-EU agreement: concluded, not yet signed
- India-US trade deal: the record so far
- Why Singapore sends the most FDI into India
Selling From Abroad
- Selling into India without an Indian company
- OIDAR: GST on foreign apps and software
- Getting paid by Indian customers
- Exporting to India and the importer of record
Setting Up in India
- Branch, liaison office or subsidiary
- Wholly owned subsidiary: setup and the first 180 days
- FDI automatic route, sector limits and the 2026 Press Notes
- FC-GPR: what 4,494 RBI compounding orders show
- PAN, TAN and bank account
- Trademarks: the Burger King Pune case
- Global capability centres in India
Apps and Data
- Launching an app in India: languages, devices, payments
- Is the app legal in India? IT Rules and DPDP
- DPDP Act and Rules: timeline and obligations
- India's four data localisation rules
- Apps blocked in India and the ones that returned
- Dating apps in India
- iOS and Android development in India
Sectors
- E-commerce: marketplace yes, inventory no
- Factories and PLI schemes
- BIS certification for electronics and imports
- Medical device registration with CDSCO
- Fintech licences from RBI
Running the Company
- Hiring in India, with or without an entity
- Corporate tax and taking profits home
- Transfer pricing and APAs
- The annual compliance calendar
What Changed in 2026
| Date | Change |
|---|---|
| 9 February | Insurance opened to 100% FDI on the automatic route |
| 1 April | Income-tax Act, 2025 replaced the 1961 Act |
| 1 May | Easier approval for investors with up to 10% land-border ownership |
| 8 May | Central rules under the four labour codes notified |
| 15 July | India-UK trade agreement in force |
| 23 July | Export-only inventory e-commerce opened to FDI |
Sources: as cited in each linked article.
In short
Entering India in 2026 means choosing a route first: selling from abroad (GST from the first sale, an income tax test at Rs 2 crore), an office (liaison, branch or project, with RBI approval and parent profit tests), or an Indian subsidiary (incorporated through SPICe+, taxed at a 22% base rate if opted). Sector rules, data law, payments and the annual compliance calendar follow from that choice. In 2026, India opened insurance to 100% FDI, eased approval for small land-border stakes, brought in a new Income-tax Act and put the India-UK trade agreement into force.
- Route first: sell from abroad, open an office, or form a subsidiary.
- India took US$94.53 billion of gross FDI in FY26, a record.
- Three FDI Press Notes in 2026: insurance, land-border stakes, export e-commerce.
- The Income-tax Act, 2025 applies from 1 April 2026.
- DPDP duties apply from around May 2027.
Sources
- India FDI Report FY 2025-26, India Briefing
- Foreign company registrations in India hit nine-year high in FY26, IBEF
- India GCC Landscape 2026, Zinnov and Nasscom
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the first decision when entering India?
The route: selling from abroad without an Indian entity, opening a liaison, branch or project office, or forming an Indian subsidiary. Tax, approvals and compliance follow from it.
Can a foreigner start a business in India?
Yes. Foreign individuals and companies can own Indian companies within FDI rules; most sectors allow 100% foreign ownership on the automatic route.
What changed for foreign businesses in India in 2026?
Insurance opened to 100% FDI, investors with small land-border stakes got easier approval, export-only inventory e-commerce opened, the Income-tax Act, 2025 took effect and the India-UK trade agreement came into force.
How much foreign investment does India receive?
US$94.53 billion of gross FDI in FY 2025-26, a record, with US$58.85 billion of equity.
