Prime Minister Narendra Modi passed his first major economic reform almost a year after coming to power, as Parliament voted late on Thursday to allow more foreign investment in the insurance sector.
Lawmakers in the Rajya Sabha or Upper House, where the government is in a minority, agreed to increase the foreign investment limit in local insurers to 49 per cent from 26 per cent after the Opposition Congress party swung behind the bill, which cleared the Lower House last week.
The passage of the bill represents a rare victory for PM Modi, who was elected last May on a promise of jobs and economic growth, but has seen other initiatives stymied by clashes with the Opposition in Parliament.
"I don't see massive inflows into the sector immediately from foreign investors. Nevertheless, it will be a very positive signal," said Dhirendra Kumar, chief executive of funds and insurance advisory service Value Research.
It could also pave the way for the year's biggest initial public offering, as HDFC Life, a joint venture between India's HDFC and Britain's Standard Life Plc, has said it would move towards a listing once the rule change is in place.
PM Modi needed both Houses of Parliament to pass the bill in the current session to prevent an ordinance or executive order he issued in December to implement the insurance measure from lapsing.
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