CHANDIGARH, MAY 29 — The central government’s economic policies have come under sharp scrutiny after India fell out of the global top 15 spots on the international FDI Confidence Index, a development Punjab Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema described as a clear collapse of institutional trust.
Reviewing historical data during a media briefing on Thursday, the finance minister stated that the decline from a top 10 ranking in 2016 to outside the top 15 in 2026 highlights the growing skepticism of multinational corporate executives regarding India’s regulatory environment. Cheema noted that while rival nations are successfully drawing capital, the central administration remains preoccupied with public relations management.
“Despite all the tall claims of ‘Amrit Kaal’, the reality is that foreign investors are looking elsewhere while the BJP Government continues with headline management instead of real economic reforms,” Finance Minister Cheema asserted.
The minister stated that global business leaders prioritize predictable operating environments, legal consistency, and industrial momentum over political announcements. He noted that growing policy uncertainty has forced foreign corporate funds to favor alternative international hubs, leaving domestic investment announcements largely unexecuted on the ground.
Cheema explained that this reduction in global confidence leaves the country’s external trade apparatus in a weaker position, resulting in trade agreements finalized through economic compromises rather than national strength. He added that the widening gap between state publicity and actual economic output continues to deter long-term corporate commitments.
“Investors are losing confidence,” Cheema remarked, stating that the continuous decline in ranking indicates that international finance is moving past narrative-driven investment strategies. The finance minister maintained that sustainable industrial progress will require a shift away from media-centric positioning toward stable economic governance.
