New Delhi, July 24 -- The government on Thursday permitted foreign direct investment (FDI) in inventory-based e-commerce models exclusively for exports, in a move aimed at boosting outbound shipments while maintaining safeguards for domestic retail.

In a press note, the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) said the existing FDI policy has been revised to remove restrictions on inventory-based e-commerce for exports of goods manufactured or produced in India. The change is intended to provide Indian sellers easier access to global markets.

Existing Rules

Under the current framework, FDI is permitted in business-to-business (B2B) e-commerce and marketplace models. However, it is not allowed in business-to-consu...