India Targets Three Fresh Bilateral Investment Treaties Before Year‑End

New Delhi – The government of India is stepping up its drive to expand the web of bilateral investment treaties (BITs). Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced that the aim is to finalise at least three new accords by the close of 2026.

Introducing a unified treaty template

India’s inaugural BIT model, adopted in 2016, has been under a comprehensive review to strike a better balance between strong investor safeguards and the nation’s policy flexibility. After roughly a year‑and‑a‑half of work, a refreshed framework is poised for cabinet approval in the coming weeks.

The new template is intended to act as a common foundation for future negotiations while still permitting each agreement to reflect the unique priorities of the partner country. Recent pacts with Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Oman already feature clauses that the government says are more in line with today’s investment landscape.

Canada, Russia and other talks underway

Discussions with Canada are advancing, and Sitharaman suggested that a Canada‑India BIT could be signed by December or, at the latest, early next year. Simultaneously, talks are ongoing with Russia – a long‑standing trade ally in energy, transport and defence – where an investment‑protection agreement would add a formal dispute‑resolution channel to the relationship.

Why the renewed push for BITs?

Bilateral investment treaties give foreign investors confidence that their capital will be shielded and that any conflicts will be resolved through pre‑agreed mechanisms. By modernising the template and courting new partners, India hopes to showcase a more predictable investment climate and attract additional overseas capital.

In recent years, India has already ratified BITs with a handful of nations, including Israel, Uzbekistan and the UAE, as listed by the Department of Economic Affairs. With several negotiations progressing in parallel, officials are confident that at least three more treaties will be sealed by December, while the Canada talks could extend into early 2027 if necessary.