India has launched a new electronic visa category — the e-Production Investment Business Visa (e-B-4) — allowing Chinese business professionals to visit the country for specific industrial and business-related purposes.According to a recent advisory issued by the Indian Embassy in Beijing, the e-B-4 Visa, which came into effect on January 1, can be applied for entirely online, eliminating the need to visit the embassy or use intermediaries.The visa is expected to be processed within 45–50 days and permits a stay in India of up to six months.The e-B-4 Visa covers activities such as installation and commissioning of equipment, quality inspections, essential maintenance, production support, IT and ERP implementation, training, supply chain development including vendor empanelment, plant design and setup, as well as visits by senior management and executives, the advisory stated.Application processIndian companies wishing to invite Chinese nationals under this visa category must register on the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT)’s National Single Window System (NSWS) at https://www.nsws.gov.in using the “Business User Login” option.Chinese applicants can submit their e-B-4 Visa applications online through the Indian Visa Online portal at https://indianvisaonline.gov.in by selecting the “For e-Visa by Bureau of Immigration” option and uploading the required supporting documents.The move comes amid recent efforts by India and China to implement people-centric measures aimed at stabilising and improving bilateral relations.