India’s exit from Global Top-15 FDI rankings exposes BJP Govt’s economic claims: Harpal Cheema
Babushai Bureau
Chandigarh, May 28, 2026: Punjab Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema on Thursday criticised the BJP-led Central Government over India slipping out of the world’s Top-15 destinations for Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) confidence, calling it a sign of weakening global investor trust in the country’s economy.
Referring to the latest global FDI Confidence Index rankings, Cheema said India was counted among the world’s Top-10 investment destinations in 2016 but has now dropped out of the Top-15 list in 2026.
In a statement and a post shared on X, the Finance Minister alleged that the BJP Government’s “headline management” and publicity-driven approach had failed to create long-term investor confidence.
“India was once among the world’s top destinations for foreign investment. Today, India is not even in the Top-15,” Cheema said.
He claimed that global investors were increasingly shifting focus towards other economies due to rising policy uncertainty and weakening confidence in India’s investment climate.
“MoUs remain largely on paper, the investment environment has weakened, and investors are looking elsewhere while the BJP Government continues making tall claims about ‘Amrit Kaal’,” he said.
Cheema further alleged that major trade agreements were being signed “from a position of compromise rather than strength” and accused the Centre of prioritising image-building over structural economic reforms.
The Finance Minister also pointed out that countries such as the UAE, Saudi Arabia and South Korea have improved their global investment appeal in recent years, while India’s position has weakened in comparison.
He said declining FDI confidence rankings raise serious concerns about policy consistency, industrial momentum and execution capacity in the country’s economic framework.