Govt eases bilateral aid norms to spur investments

In a decision whose significance will play out over time, the Modi government made it easier for India to accept bilateral aid from foreign countries, hoping it would attract investment in infrastructure and boost the ´Make in India´ project. India will now accept assistance from countries other than the five on the official list. In 2003, Jaswant Singh had announced India would henceforth only accept aid from five countries- UK, USA, Russia, Germany, Japan and European Union. The list later added European Commission, Italy and Canada and European Union countries outside G-8. That list will now be expanded further.