The Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) has announced an updated standard operating procedure (SOP) for processing foreign direct investment (FDI) applications in India. Under the new SOP, a decision on FDI proposals will be made within 12 weeks, excluding any delays caused by applicants needing to rectify deficiencies or provide additional information. This update aims to streamline the application process by making it completely paperless, meaning applicants will no longer need to submit physical copies of required documents. Furthermore, all applications will be sent to the Ministry of External Affairs for comments or clearance, particularly for investments from countries sharing a land border with India. Relevant ministries, including the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) and the Home Ministry, must provide their feedback within the designated timeline; otherwise, it will be assumed they have no objections. The previous SOP, issued on June 29, 2017, set a maximum decision timeframe of 10 weeks.