Incorporated on January 1961, FCIL was re-organised with effect from 1.4.1978. It has four Fertilizer manufacturing units, one each at Sindri (Jharkand), Ramagundam (Andhra Pradesh), Talcher (Orissa), Gorakhpur (U.P.) with installed annual capacity of 808.65 thousand MT of Nitrogen per annum .

FCIL is a Central Government Undertaking under the administrative control of Ministry of Chemicals & Fertilizers (Department of Fertilizers). Management of FCIL is by a Board of Directors and Principal Executives.

The Authorised Capital of the company is 800 Crores and paid-up capital as on 31.3.2008 was Rs. 758.24 Crores. The Net Worth of the company became negative at the end of 1983-84. In accordance with Government guidelines, the corporation was referred to BIFR under Sick Industrial Companies (Special Provisions) Act 1985 in April 1992.

Due to non viability of operations of the fertilizer units, the Government of India had taken a decision in September 2002 to close all fertilizer units and further offered VSS to all the employees. The matter being under the purview of BIFR, the Honorable BIFR in the hearing held on 2/4/2004 recommended for windup of FCIL. At prasent the company is before the Hon'ble High Court of Delhi (Original Company jurisdiction) considering the recommendation of BIFR.GOI in April 2007 decided to revive all the closed units of FCIL and accordingly the Hon'ble High Court of Delhi in their regular haevings has been permitting time for submission of viable revival scheme.