The aggregate holding of equity shares by a foreign company either by itself or through its subsidiary companies or its nominees or by an individual or by an association of persons whether registered or not under any law of a country outside India taken in aggregate in the pension fund shall not exceed twenty-six per cent. of the paid-up capital of such fund or such percentage as may be approved for an Indian insurance company under the provisions the Insurance Act, 1938 (4 of 1938) whichever is higher.
     Explanation.--For the purposes of this section, the expression "foreign company" shall have the meaning assigned to it in clause (23A) of section 2 of the Income-tax Act, 1961 (43 of 1961).