GIFT City IFSC
India's first International Financial Services Centre — a purpose-built global financial hub in Gujarat offering world-class regulatory infrastructure and preferential tax treatment for institutional investors.
- Established 2015
- Regulator IFSCA (GIFT IFSC)
- Special Status Special Economic Zone
- Currency USD & Multi-currency
- Time Zone IST (GMT+5:30)
What is GIFT City?
Gujarat International Finance Tec-City (GIFT City) is a planned business district and smart city under development in Gujarat, India. Its IFSC (International Financial Services Centre) is a dedicated zone where global financial regulations apply, enabling entities to operate in international currency and under a globally competitive regulatory framework.
Unified Regulator
The International Financial Services Centres Authority (IFSCA), established in 2020 under the International Financial Services Centres Authority Act, 2019, is the unified regulator for GIFT IFSC. It exercises the powers of the RBI, SEBI, IRDAI and PFRDA in respect of the IFSC.
Global Standards
Operations aligned with international best practices, enabling seamless cross-border transactions and multi-currency settlements.
Growth Trajectory
Home to 500+ entities including global banks, fund managers, stock exchanges, and insurance companies as of 2024.
World-Class Infrastructure
State-of-the-art physical and digital infrastructure with 24×7 operations, data centers, and global connectivity.
Tax Advantages
No Goods & Services Tax
Financial services conducted in GIFT IFSC are exempt from GST, significantly reducing the cost of structuring and operating funds.
Minimal Stamp Duty
Transactions within GIFT IFSC attract negligible stamp duty obligations compared to onshore Indian structures, enabling cost-efficient operations.
No Securities Transaction Tax
Securities Transaction Tax is not levied on trades executed through exchanges at GIFT IFSC, improving net returns for fund investors.
Preferential Income Tax
Fund managers operating from GIFT IFSC benefit from a 10-year tax holiday on income earned from eligible transactions and activities.
Eligible Entities
Fund Management Entity Tiers
- Authorised FME — net worth USD 75,000
- Registered FME (Non-Retail) — USD 500,000
- Registered FME (Retail) — USD 1 million
- Each tier carries the permissions of those below it
Institutional Investors
- Family Offices
- Endowment Funds
- Pension Funds
- Sovereign Wealth Funds
Financial Services
- Banking Units (IBUs)
- Insurance & Reinsurance
- Capital Market Intermediaries
- Fintech Entities
Types of Funds at GIFT IFSC
A Fund Management Entity registered with IFSCA may launch six distinct products under the IFSCA (Fund Management) Regulations, 2025. Which of them are available depends on the tier of the FME’s registration.
Venture Capital Scheme
The entry-level scheme, available to an Authorised FME. Invests primarily in unlisted securities of start-ups and early-stage ventures, and is filed with IFSCA as a venture capital fund under Category I AIF.
- Close-ended, minimum three-year tenure
- Maximum 50 investors
- Min USD 250,000 per investor
- Minimum corpus USD 3 million
Restricted Scheme (Non-Retail)
The principal private-placement vehicle at GIFT IFSC, available to a Registered FME (Non-Retail). Filed as a Category I, II or III AIF according to strategy, spanning private equity, credit, infrastructure, real estate and derivative-based trading.
- Open-ended or close-ended
- Up to 1,000 investors
- Min USD 150,000 per investor
- Minimum corpus USD 3 million
Special Situation Fund
A Restricted Scheme sub-category dedicated to distressed assets. Invests only in special situation assets: stressed loans transferable under the RBI Transfer of Loan Exposures Directions or an IBC resolution plan, security receipts issued by a registered Asset Reconstruction Company, and securities of companies in insolvency or sustained default.
- Close-ended only
- Minimum tenure three years
- Distressed assets only
- No leverage permitted
Retail Scheme
The only scheme open to the general investing public, and available only to a Registered FME (Retail). Launched through an offer document filed with IFSCA at least 21 working days before launch.
- Open-ended or close-ended
- NAV daily if open-ended, weekly if close-ended
- Minimum 20 investors, none above 25%
- Company or trust only
Exchange Traded Fund (IFSC ETF)
A listed, exchange-traded product available only to a Registered FME (Retail). Covers equity index, debt index, commodity, hybrid and actively managed strategies.
- Mandatorily exchange-listed
- Daily NAV publication
- IFSC ETF identifier required
- Registered FME (Retail) only
Family Investment Fund
A self-managed vehicle established by a single family and run through its own Authorised FME registration. The broadest investment mandate in the regime, extending to physical assets including real estate, bullion and art.
- Single family, self-managed
- Min USD 10 million within three years
- Open-ended or close-ended
- Borrowing and leverage permitted
A Registered FME may also provide Portfolio Management Services, act as investment manager to an Investment Trust — a REIT or InvIT — constituted in the IFSC, and, with separate authorisation from IFSCA, provide Third-Party Fund Management Services, managing schemes on behalf of an externally regulated third-party manager. These are fund management activities rather than schemes, and are governed by Chapter VI of the regulations.
Figures reflect the IFSCA (Fund Management) Regulations, 2025 as amended to 30 January 2026
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