GIFT IFSC Updates September 2026: Banking & Fund Management

02 Sep 2026: GIFT IFSC Emerges as a Growing International Banking Hub, Mobilises Over $52.8 Billion Through FCNR(B) Swap Facility

GIFT City’s International Financial Services Centre (GIFT-IFSC) is emerging as an increasingly important hub for international banking and cross-border capital flows, with banks using the platform to mobilise foreign currency and access global sources of financing. As of 31 August 2026, 20 International Banking Units (IBUs) operating at GIFT-IFSC had sanctioned $54.02 billion under the RBI’s special swap facility for FCNR(B) deposits. Of this, approximately $52.82 billion had already been disbursed, highlighting the rapid scale-up in activity. The pace of mobilisation has accelerated significantly in recent weeks. Aggregate sanctions rose from $28.60 billion on 14 August to $37.26 billion on 21 August, before reaching $54.02 billion by 31 August. The participation of both Indian and international banks reflects the growing depth of GIFT-IFSC’s banking ecosystem and its ability to connect Indian financial institutions with global sources of foreign-currency liquidity.

Rising ECB and International Bond Activity

The momentum extends beyond the FCNR(B) swap facility. Between April and August 2026, IBUs at GIFT-IFSC disbursed $11.62 billion in External Commercial Borrowings (ECBs). Monthly ECB disbursements increased from $1.54 billion in April to $3.54 billion in August, indicating rising utilisation of GIFT-IFSC for cross-border financing. International capital-market activity has also expanded. Indian banks raised $11.12 billion through bond listings on IFSC exchanges between April and August 2026, with $9.17 billion of these listings taking place during July and August alone.Together, these developments point to a broader diversification of GIFT-IFSC’s role-from facilitating foreign-currency liquidity to supporting ECBs and providing access to international capital markets. The increasing use of GIFT-IFSC is also being supported by fund mobilisation from a wide range of international markets, including the UK, US, Mexico, West Asia, Hong Kong, Singapore and select African countries. The development follows the Union Finance Minister’s direction to public-sector banks to make greater use of the financial-services ecosystem and institutional infrastructure available at GIFT-IFSC for implementing RBI’s FCNR(B) swap facilities and ECB financing.

IFSCA Chairperson K. Rajaraman said the rapid expansion of banking activity demonstrates the growing international orientation of GIFT-IFSC and its ability to act as a bridge between global pools of capital and India’s financing requirements.

With strong growth across FCNR(B) mobilisation, ECB financing and international bond issuance, GIFT-IFSC is gradually developing into a more diversified international banking ecosystem and an important channel connecting global capital with Indian financial and financing opportunities.

03 Sep 2026: GIFT IFSC Continues to Scale, Business Activity Expands Across Banking, Capital Markets and Fund Management

The International Financial Services Centres Authority (IFSCA) has released its Q1 FY2026-27 Quarterly Bulletin, highlighting continued expansion across the GIFT City International Financial Services Centre (IFSC) during April–June 2026. The number of registrations and authorisations across the IFSC ecosystem rose to 1,336 as of June 30, 2026, including 76 in-principle or provisional approvals, compared with 1,213 at the end of March 2026. Banking activity remained a key driver. Outstanding assets of IFSC Banking Units (IBUs) increased to $120.69 billion at the end of June, from $111 billion at the end of March. IBUs also booked $15.42 billion of trade-finance transactions during the quarter. Capital-market activity was equally significant, with 6.93 million contracts worth $317.01 billion traded on IFSC exchanges during Q1. Debt listings amounted to $2.20 billion, including $500 million of ESG-labelled debt. The fund-management ecosystem also continued to deepen. By June-end, 235 Fund Management Entities were managing 401 funds/schemes. Cumulative commitments increased to $45.08 billion from $39.09 billion, while cumulative funds raised rose to $22.93 billion from $19.51 billion at the end of March. Insurance activity recorded a sharp increase, with premiums written by IFSC Insurance Offices more than doubling to $419.16 million during the quarter from $202.30 million in the previous quarter. Gross reinsurance premiums accounted for more than $400 million, compared with $186.93 million previously. The aircraft and ship-leasing ecosystem also expanded. Aviation assets under leasing increased to 412 from 373, while the number of ships leased rose to 42 from 37 during the quarter. Other financial services showed continued momentum. Payment-account transaction value increased more than threefold to $110.99 million, from $36.26 million in the previous quarter. The value of ITFS transactions also increased to $126.92 million from $105.75 million. Meanwhile, the number of financial-support service entities, including Global In-house Centres, with final authorisations reached 143.

Overall, the Q1 FY2026-27 data points to broad-based growth across GIFT IFSC, with banking, capital markets, fund management, insurance, leasing and financial-support services all expanding. The numbers suggest that the ecosystem is moving beyond its initial development phase and increasingly functioning as a diversified international financial centre.

08 Sep 2026: IFSCA Introduces Unified Market Abuse Framework for GIFT IFSC Securities Markets

The International Financial Services Centres Authority (IFSCA) has notified the IFSCA (Prohibition of Market Abuse in Securities Markets) Regulations, 2026, published in the Official Gazette on 5 September 2026. The new framework is aimed at strengthening investor protection, market integrity and orderly functioning of securities markets in GIFT IFSC.

The regulations replace the earlier applicability of SEBI’s Insider Trading Regulations, 2015 and Prohibition of Fraudulent and Unfair Trade Practices Regulations, 2003 in the IFSC, bringing insider trading and market-abuse provisions under a single regulatory framework. The rules have been developed with reference to IOSCO principles and global regulatory practices, including principles relating to regulatory surveillance, investigation, inspection and enforcement. A key provision is the definition of Material Non-Public Information (MNPI)-information that is not publicly available and could materially affect the price of an entity’s securities once disclosed. An insider includes both connected persons and anyone possessing or having access to such information.

The regulations prohibit insiders from communicating or providing access to MNPI except for legitimate purposes, performance of duties or legal obligations. They also prohibit trading while in possession of MNPI, subject to specified exceptions such as certain off-market transfers, statutory transactions, stock-option exercises and trades under approved trading plans. The framework also introduces greater disclosure requirements for designated persons. Controlling shareholders, directors and other designated persons must disclose their trades to the listed entity within two trading days when the value of transactions during a quarter exceeds $25,000, or another threshold specified by IFSCA. Listed entities must subsequently notify the relevant stock exchange and publish the information on their websites.The regulations further prohibit fraudulent, manipulative and deceptive activities, including schemes designed to defraud investors and practices that constitute fraud or unfair dealing in securities. Finally, entities listed on recognised IFSC stock exchanges will be required to maintain effective internal controls and a formal code of conduct to prevent insider trading and market abuse.

Overall, the new regulations provide GIFT IFSC with a dedicated and unified market-abuse framework, bringing its securities-market oversight closer to international regulatory standards while replacing the earlier SEBI framework applicable within the IFSC.

16 Sep 2026: IFSCA Eases Fund Management Rules to Boost GIFT IFSC’s Global Fund Industry

The International Financial Services Centres Authority (IFSCA) has notified the Second Amendment to the IFSCA (Fund Management) Regulations, 2025, on 10 September 2026, introducing several changes aimed at making fund management easier while strengthening investor protection and regulatory clarity at GIFT IFSC.

A key change is greater flexibility for close-ended Restricted Schemes, which may move from semi-annual to annual NAV computation and disclosure with approval from at least 75% of investors by value. Independent valuation requirements have also been relaxed where the underlying investments are already independently valued. IFSCA has increased the scope for fund managers with Indian ultimate beneficial owners to build an international track record. FMEs and their associates can now contribute up to 25% of the corpus, compared with the earlier 10%, for VC and Restricted Schemes investing exclusively in IFSC or overseas markets.

The amendments also provide greater flexibility to VC Schemes, allowing them to participate in subsequent funding rounds even after an investee company crosses 10 years from incorporation, subject to conditions. Other measures include exemptions from certain concentration limits for qualifying Fund-of-Funds schemes, flexibility to appoint a common auditor for government-backed funds and their FMEs, and extending the deadline for submitting annual scheme reports from four to six months.

At the same time, investor protection has been strengthened through additional retail-scheme disclosures, including NAV calculation methodology and conflicts of interest, along with greater oversight of internal policies by the FME’s governing body. The amendments also allow temporary deployment of scheme funds in capital-preserving and liquid instruments before the minimum corpus is achieved and provide greater flexibility around investor approvals and appointment timelines for key service providers.

Overall, the changes seek to reduce operational friction for fund managers, provide greater flexibility for international fund structures and strengthen governance and disclosure standards, supporting GIFT IFSC’s ambition to develop into a globally competitive fund-management centre.

23 Sep 2026: IFSCA Expands Global Investment Access for Retail Investors at GIFT IFSC

The International Financial Services Centres Authority (IFSCA) has expanded the list of jurisdictions from which registered IFSC distributors can offer capital-market products and services to non-sophisticated investors.

Under a circular issued on 18 September 2026, IFSCA amended its Master Circular for Distributors in the IFSC, adding the UAE, Singapore, Australia and the European Union to the existing list of seven permitted jurisdictions-US, Japan, South Korea, UK, France, Germany and Canada.

The move is aimed at facilitating cross-border distribution, widening the range of investment products available to investors and creating additional business opportunities for distributors operating in GIFT IFSC.

Overall, the amendment further strengthens GIFT IFSC’s role as a platform for connecting Indian and international investors with a broader range of global capital-market products.

25 Sep 2026: IFSCA Opens Door to Differential Fund Structures to Support Blended Finance

The International Financial Services Centres Authority (IFSCA) has introduced a new framework allowing Venture Capital Schemes and Restricted Schemes at GIFT IFSC to issue different classes of units with different distribution rights, aimed at facilitating blended finance and other specialised fund structures.

Under the circular issued on 25 September 2026, funds can create junior or subordinate classes of units that may receive lower returns or absorb a higher share of losses than other classes. This structure allows different investors to take different levels of risk and potentially helps attract commercial capital into projects that may otherwise be difficult to finance.

The framework also allows qualifying ESG Schemes aligned with one or more UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to accept grants, subject to applicable conditions. Foreign-source grants must comply with the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act, where applicable, and grants cannot constitute the majority of the fund’s corpus.

Given the higher risk associated with junior units, the minimum investment has been set at $1 million for Accredited Investors and $2 million for other investors.

IFSCA has also introduced enhanced disclosure requirements. Funds must clearly explain the distribution waterfall, rights and risks of each unit class, conversion triggers and methodology, grant-management policies, and NAV calculation methodology. NAV for each class must be calculated by an independent valuer.

The framework is intended to make GIFT IFSC more suitable for blended-finance structures that combine concessional or philanthropic capital with commercial capital, particularly for sustainable, climate and socially desirable projects where conventional commercial funding may be insufficient.

Overall, the move gives fund managers greater flexibility in structuring capital while adding specific disclosure and investor-protection requirements for these more complex investment structures.