The current economy of India attracts people all over the globe for investments. There are numbers of opportunities to take advantage from one of the biggest market in world.
According to a Ministry of External Affairs report, there are more than 28 million NRIs residing in different parts of the world. NRIs, Non-Resident Indians, are the people who are of Indian origin but live outside the Republic of India. Many Indians move away for better education and work opportunities. NRIs in developed countries earn in a denomination with greater value than the Indian Rupees, and so investing in India is a great opportunity for them to plan for their future and life goals. Also, you help your country grow and develop by investing money here. But as an NRI, what are the options available for you to make an investment back in India and how can you do it?
The current economy of India attracts people all over the globe for investments. High investments are also extremely important and beneficial for India. To make the process easy and smooth, the Indian government has a set of rules and regulations for investments as an NRI. Before investing in India, a PAN card (Permanent Account Number) and KYC (Knowing Your Customer) process is mandatory. This is done to confirm your residency and citizenship details.
The first step is to open a Savings or a Transaction account in a bank through which all the transactions will take place. As an NRI, there are three types of bank accounts from which you can choose:
- Non-Resident External Accounts (NRE)
- Non-Resident Ordinary Accounts (NRO)
- Foreign Currency Non-Resident Accounts (FCNR)
Once you have completed the formalities, you can start investing. An NRI is not permitted to invest in Post Office deposits and Public Provident Fund (PPF). We have discussed all the options that are available to NRIs for investments:
Real Estate
Real Estate is one of the most popular and most chosen investment options for NRIs. But, being an NRI, you can only invest in real estate on residential and commercial properties. Any agricultural land or plantations are not permitted. But, if you have inherited the land or received it as a gift, you are allowed to own the property.
Direct Equities
Investing directly in the Indian stock market is another popular choice for NRIs. You will need to open a Portfolio Investment Scheme (PIS) and a corresponding NRE/NRO savings account. In addition to that, a dematerialized (demat) account and a trading account with a broker registered with the Stock Exchange Board of India is required. As an NRI, you are only allowed to buy up to 10% of the paid-up capital of any company.
Mutual Funds
Mutual Funds are an easier and convenient option for investments, however, understanding risk profiles before investing is extremely crucial. NRIs are permitted to invest in all categories of Mutual Funds. An NRE or NRO account can be used for this.
Government Securities
The Government of India issues Bonds and Non-Convertible Debentures(NCDs), as Government Securities, that are used by private or public companies to raise long-term capital. NRIs are allowed to invest in any of the NCDs or bonds by the government through their NRE or NRO account.
Fixed Deposits
To invest your money with a pre-agreed term and interest rate, a fixed deposit is your safest bet. An NRE or NRO account can be used to invest in an FD.
Being an NRI, you are applicable for certain benefits like tax exemptions on a particular investment. Although currently, it is a good time to start your investments in India, it is important to understand tax laws in India and your country of residence before investing. Investing is a significant part of our lives so that we prepare for our future and life goals, and so should be done with careful considerations.