NRIs, or non-resident Indians, are people with an Indian passport but reside in other countries. When it comes to financial planning and investments, NRIs consistently have invested part of their wealth in India. A key reason for this is the comparative simplicity of the Indian investment market and the reliability of financial instruments. Any NRI investing in India can rest assured that their investment is safe. At the same time, there are some special provisions and investment schemes of RBI, specifically for NRIs investing in India, which can be leveraged.

In this article, we will discuss a few tips for NRIs investing in India. First, let us briefly explain why investments in India are lucrative for NRIs.

• NRIs can invest in real estate, mutual funds, government securities, and various deposit accounts in India, leveraging their safety and growth potential.
• NRE, NRO, and FCNR accounts provide NRIs with various functionalities catering to different financial needs.
• Choosing a trustworthy power of attorney is crucial for NRIs to ensure secure management of investments in their absence.

Indian financial markets are perceived internationally as an avenue with high growth potential. Global institutions like the IMF and World Bank have maintained a strong positive outlook towards India. The country has also been attracting significantly high levels of foreign direct investments (FDIs) over the last decade, which is a big improvement on the earlier levels and ranking.

India is consistently ranked among the most rapidly growing economies, attracting investments from all corners of the world. Retail investors are also a significant part of this trend.

Now that you know what makes investing in India attractive for NRIs, let us share a few of the best and fundamental tips that every NRI investor in the Indian financial market must know.

While numerous options may be available for NRIs to invest in India, only a few might be compatible with your unique requirements and investment goals. The most popular investments in India among NRIs include real estate, mutual funds, and the equity market. Equity investments, especially, have no higher cap for NRIs in terms of the investment amount. Compared to when investors buy shares and invest in equity, mutual funds are considered safer long-term investment options.

Government securities are also enticing investment options for NRIs in India. These securities are issued by the government and processed by the RBI. This makes them relatively lower-risk investments as the government and RBI are both involved. NRIs can easily access and invest in various government securities through banks and remain assured that their investments will be safe.

When it comes to NRI investments in India, the income earned from investing is taxable. For NRIs, the dividends from Indian investments in mutual funds are only tax-free, with a minimum of 65% of assets held in equities.  Any other capital gains from the market are taxed. These laws also promote having and keeping an NRI account as it eases the investment process for NRIs.

For any NRI to invest in India, there are several deposit accounts with different functionalities. Two of the most popular of these are NRE and NRO accounts.

The NRE account is a fixed deposit account for NRIs, which is taxable but fully repatriable. With NRE accounts, NRIs can deposit currency from their overseas accounts, and it can be remitted as Indian currency in Indian accounts. Contrary to this, NRO accounts are held tax-free. These can be opened as individuals or as a joint account along with a resident from India. Any income that NRIs earn in India can be deposited in NRO accounts. In addition, NRIs have the option of FCNR (Foreign Currency Non-Repatriable) deposits, where they can put in a fixed deposit in any foreign currency.

Having a Demat account and a trading account are essential to investing in India.

Carefully choosing a power of attorney holder can be incredibly important to NRIs. It is considered to be a safe practice to have a trustworthy and reliable person holding your power of attorney. Whenever you want to invest, an established power of attorney ensures that even in your absence, your account will be handled by a reliable individual. If you are an NRI investing in India, it is crucial to set up a power of attorney and strategically consider all investment options.

Conclusion

NRIs have various lucrative investment options in India, ranging from real estate and mutual funds to government securities. These investments offer safety, growth potential, and tax benefits, making India an attractive destination for NRIs. By carefully selecting investment options and using resources like NRE, NRO, and FCNR accounts, NRIs can effectively manage and grow their wealth in India. Additionally, appointing a trustworthy power of attorney ensures your investments are handled securely in your absence.