Economic Times:

A government panel has recommended exempting Apple from mandatory local sourcing norms, a move which would pave the way for Apple to open single-brand retail stores in the country.

To qualify for this exemption, a company’s product line must qualify as cutting edge technology. In order for a foreign company to own a business in India, they must seek permission if their stake is higher than 49%. This is in addition to the local sourcing exemption for products.

There are currently no Apple Stores in India, so this is an important step.