MUMBAI, (Internet): The government is not considering any proposal to allow foreign direct investment (FDI) in retail sector, agriculture minister Sharad Pawar said.

"There is no proposal to allow FDI in retail and government is not thinking of it because it wants to protect the interest of retailers," the minister told the Rajya Sabha during question hour.

He said the International Council for Research on International Economic Relations (ICRIER), which is undertaking a study on the likely impact of organised retailing on the unorganised sector, will submit its report by end-May.

The study would cover "effect of organised retailing on small retailers and vendors in the unorganised sector keeping in mid the likely growth in the overall market and effect on employment," he added.

Pawar said the regulation of retailing falls under the jurisdiction of the state governments.