The Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) cap for civil aviation was, however, left unchanged at 49 per cent.
While the FDI cap in defence sector remained unchanged at 26 per cent, higher limits of foreign investments in 'state-of-the-art' technology manufacturing will be considered by the Cabinet Committee on Security, Commerce and Industry Minister Anand Sharma told reporters here.
In the contentious insurance sector, it was decided to raise the sectoral FDI cap from 26 per cent to 49 per cent under automatic route under which companies investing do not require prior government approval. A Bill to raise FDI cap in the sector is pending in the Rajya Sabha.
"Consensus" on raising FDI limits in some sectors and relaxing the route in others was arrived at a meeting Prime Minister Manmohan Singh took with his key ministers, Sharma said.
It was decided to allow 49 per cent FDI in single brand retail under the automatic route and beyond through the Foreign Investment Promotion Board (FIPB).
Besides civil aviation, Sharma said, no view was taken on relaxing FDI caps in airports, media, brownfield pharma and multi-brand retail.
In case of PSU oil refineries, commodity bourses, power exchanges, stock exchanges and clearing corporations, FDI will be allowed up to 49 per cent under automatic route as against current routing of the investment through FIPB.