Indian companies raised $1.82 billion from overseas markets through external commercial borrowings and rupee-denominated bonds in January this year.
Domestic companies had raised $1.40 billion in foreign debt in January last year but the data is not comparable as this year's numbers include funds raised via rupee-denominated bonds (RBD).
The Reserve Bank started publishing the RBD data from September 2016 after it allowed the corporates to raise foreign funds via this route.
Of the total borrowings in January, $1.80 billion came through external commercial borrowings (ECB) and the rest $11.75 million via rupee-denominated bonds, the Reserve Bank data released on Wednesday showed.
In the ECB category, Indian companies raised $1.38 billion by automatic route and the remaining $426.96 million through approval channel.
Rural Electrification Corporation, which raised $400 million for on-lending, was the major borrower in the approval category.
Companies which raised foreign funds by automatic route include power producer NTPC ($531.18 million), Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone ($500 million).
ATC Telecom Infrastructure borrowed $47.74 million for refinancing of rupee loans.
Nippon Steel & Sumikin Engineering India and Beumer India were the two companies that issued RBDs worth $7.34 million and $4.41 million respectively.
Nippon Steel & Sumikin Engineering India would use the capital to commence a new project, while Beumer India has raised funds to meet its general corporate purposes.