India Inx-India International Exchange IFSC Ltd, GIFT City, SEZ, Global Investors

> Introduction

Introduction

India continues to be an attractive investment destination for global investors. With the launch of India International Exchange, International investors are exploring greater opportunities. Further, tax benefits and ease of trading in India INX at GIFT IFSC makes India a more accessible destination amongst markets. The Regulations for FPI have considerably eased the entry norms to access the markets at GIFT IFSC. Foreign Portfolio Investors (FPI) FPI stands for Foreign Portfolio Investor. In India, the term "Foreign Portfolio Investor" refers to FIIs or their sub-accounts, or qualified foreign investors (QFIs) Under the SEBI FPI Regulations, 2014, Foreign Institutional Investors (FIIs), Sub Accounts (SA) and Qualified Foreign Investors (QFIs) were merged into a single category, referred to as FPIs. The Regulation was revised in 2019 whereby the FPIs were categorised into two categories as given below:

Category I

Government and Government related investors such as central banks, sovereign wealth funds, international or multilateral organizations or agencies including entities controlled or at least 75% directly or indirectly owned by such Government and Government related investor(s);
Pension funds and university funds;
Appropriately regulated entities such as insurance or reinsurance entities, banks, asset management companies, investment managers, investment advisors, portfolio managers, broker dealers and swap dealers;
Entities from the Financial Action Task Force member countries 2[, or from any country specified by the Central Government by an order or by way of an agreement or treaty with other sovereign Governments,] which are –
- appropriately regulated funds;
- unregulated funds whose investment manager is appropriately regulated and registered as a Category I foreign portfolio investor:
  Provided that the investment manager undertakes the responsibility of all the acts of commission or omission of such unregulated fund;
- university related endowments of such universities that have been in existence for more than five years;
- Entities from the Financial Action Task Force member countries 2[, or from any country specified by the Central Government by an order or by way of an agreement or treaty with other sovereign Governments,] which are –
  (v)An entity (A) whose investment manager is from the Financial Action Task Force member country and such an investment manager is registered as a Category I foreign portfolio investor; or (B) which is at least seventy-five per cent owned, directly or indirectly by another entity, eligible under sub-clause (ii), (iii) and (iv) of clause (a) of this regulation and such an eligible entity is from a Financial Action Task Force member country:
  
  Provided that such an investment manager or eligible entity undertakes the responsibility of all the acts of commission or omission of the applicants seeking registration under this sub-clause.

Category II
Includes all the investors not eligible under Category I foreign portfolio investors such as –

appropriately regulated funds not eligible as Category-I foreign portfolio investor;
endowments and foundations;
charitable organisations;
corporate bodies;
family offices;
Individuals;
appropriately regulated entities investing on behalf of their client, as per conditions specified by the Board from time to time;
Unregulated funds in the form of limited partnership and trusts;

Explanation: An applicant incorporated or established in an International Financial Services Centre shall be deemed to be appropriately regulated.