The Competition Commission of India has cleared British retail major Tesco's purchase of a 50 per cent stake in Tata Group firm Trent Hypermarket, the first FDI transaction in multi-brand retail since the sector was opened up in 2012.The approval by the Commission comes when a political debate over foreign direct investment in multi-brand retail has been revived. The BJP, which has formed the new government at the Centre, has been vocal about its opposition to FDI in this sector.Approving the purchase of stake in Trent Hypermarket Ltd by Tesco Overseas Investments Ltd, the fair trade regulator said Tesco was not earlier engaged in the retail business in India and the transaction is not likely to have appreciable adverse effect on competition in India.