GIFT CITY Update May 2026

20th April 2026: IFSCA Registers First Foreign Family Investment Fund, Boosting GIFT IFSC’s Global Wealth Hub Ambitions

The International Financial Services Centres Authority (IFSCA) has taken a significant step in strengthening India’s position as a global financial hub by granting registration to the first foreign Family Office under its newly notified IFSCA (Fund Management) Regulations, 2025.

This marks the debut of a Foreign Family Investment Fund structure within the GIFT International Financial Services Centre (GIFT IFSC), underscoring the regulator’s push to attract global private wealth and institutional capital to India’s offshore financial ecosystem.

The move reflects IFSCA’s broader strategy to create a globally competitive, flexible, and investor-friendly regulatory framework tailored for sophisticated wealth structures such as family offices. By enabling Family Investment Funds, the framework allows wealthy global families to efficiently manage and deploy capital across jurisdictions through well-governed, institutional-grade fund structures based in India.

Industry observers see this development as a milestone for GIFT IFSC, enhancing its appeal as a preferred destination for international fund management. With regulatory clarity, tax efficiency, and a growing ecosystem, the platform is increasingly positioning itself as a gateway for global investors seeking exposure to both Indian and international markets.

The registration is expected to pave the way for more foreign family offices to establish a presence in GIFT IFSC, further deepening India’s integration into global capital flows and reinforcing its ambition to become a leading financial services hub.

20th April 2026:  IFSCA Unveils Comprehensive Cybersecurity Framework for Market Infrastructure Institutions at GIFT IFSC

The International Financial Services Centres Authority (IFSCA) has rolled out a comprehensive cybersecurity and resilience framework for Market Infrastructure Institutions (MIIs) at GIFT IFSC, covering exchanges, clearing corporations, depositories, and bullion platforms.

The guidelines introduce a seven-pillar architecture-Govern, Identify, Protect, Detect, Respond, Recover, and Resilience-while strengthening governance through board-approved cybersecurity policies and mandatory appointment of a Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) reporting to the CEO/MD.

A key addition is future-ready risk management, requiring annual cryptographic assessments and adoption roadmaps for Post-Quantum Cryptography (PQC). Institutions must also set up 24×7 Security Operations Centres, deploy real-time monitoring tools, and maintain robust disaster recovery systems.

Strict incident reporting norms mandate disclosure to regulators within six hours, alongside detailed follow-ups. The framework also tightens third-party risk oversight and requires ISO 27001 certification within two years.

Aligned with Indian laws and national cybersecurity agencies, the guidelines-effective April 1, 2026-will be implemented in phases, significantly enhancing cyber resilience at GIFT IFSC.

20th April 2026: India, South Korea Strengthen Financial Ties with IFSCA-FSC MoU at Bilateral Forum

In a move aimed at deepening cross-border financial cooperation, the International Financial Services Centres Authority (IFSCA) and South Korea’s Financial Services Commission (FSC) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to enhance regulatory collaboration and foster the development of financial services ecosystems in both countries.

The agreement was signed during the Korea-India Financial Cooperation Forum held in New Delhi, coinciding with the official visit of Lee Jae Myung, President of the Republic of Korea, to India.

The MoU was formalised by K. Rajaraman, Chairperson of IFSCA, and Lee Eog-weon, Chairman of the FSC, along with Lee Chanjin, Governor of the Financial Supervisory Service of Korea. The exchange took place in the presence of senior officials from both nations, including Anuradha Thakur, Secretary of the Department of Economic Affairs, Ministry of Finance, and Hangyong Lee, Chairman of the Council on International Financial Cooperation.

At its core, the agreement seeks to facilitate cooperation and mutual assistance between the two regulators through the exchange of information, regulatory best practices, and supervisory insights. It also lays the groundwork for collaboration in emerging areas such as financial innovation and the adoption of advanced technologies within the financial sector.

Officials highlighted that the MoU reflects a shared commitment by India and South Korea to strengthen engagement between their financial ecosystems. By creating a structured platform for dialogue and knowledge-sharing, the partnership is expected to support the development of robust, innovation-driven financial systems in both jurisdictions.

The agreement further underscores India’s growing role in global financial governance, particularly through platforms such as GIFT IFSC, as it seeks to build stronger linkages with key international financial centres.

24th April 2026: IFSCA Approves Capital-Raising Norms and SPV Framework to Boost GIFT IFSC’s Aviation Finance Ecosystem

The International Financial Services Centres Authority (IFSCA), at its 28th Authority meeting held on April 17, 2026, cleared a series of regulatory measures aimed at strengthening capital markets and deepening the aviation financing ecosystem at the GIFT International Financial Services Centre (GIFT IFSC).

Among the key decisions, the Authority approved frameworks for Preferential Issues and Qualified Institutions Placements (QIPs) under the IFSCA (Listing) Regulations, 2024. The move is expected to provide listed entities in IFSC with efficient avenues to raise additional capital. In parallel, a streamlined framework for Rights Issues was also cleared, enabling companies to access funds through faster and more simplified processes.

In a significant push to the leasing and financing ecosystem, IFSCA approved amendments to enable the creation of Special Purpose Vehicles (SPVs) within GIFT IFSC. The changes, spanning the IFSCA (TechFin and Ancillary Services) Regulations, 2025 and the IFSCA (Finance Company) Regulations, 2021, will allow end-to-end structuring of leasing transactions within India.

The development comes amid rapid growth in the IFSC’s aviation leasing segment, with over 370 aviation assets already leased from GIFT IFSC as of March 31, 2026. The new framework facilitates the registration of Trust and Company Service Providers (TCSPs), which manage SPV structures widely used by global financiers for aircraft leasing.

Officials said the reforms are designed to attract global lenders, lessors, and investors while reducing reliance on offshore jurisdictions for aircraft financing. By enabling domestic structuring, the framework is expected to curb outflows related to lease rentals and administrative costs, while also fostering a regulated TCSP ecosystem and creating high-skilled jobs in finance and legal services.

The revised regulations, shaped by stakeholder consultations, also incorporate strong governance standards, including AML/KYC compliance and alignment with global norms.

With these measures, IFSCA aims to enhance capital availability at competitive costs and reinforce GIFT IFSC’s positioning as an emerging global hub for aviation finance and international capital markets.

29th April 2026: IFSCA Hosts Corporate Treasury Conference 2026 at GIFT City

The International Financial Services Centres Authority (IFSCA) convened its Corporate Treasury Conference 2026 on April 29-30 at GIFT City, drawing over 250 participants from corporates, banks, and fintech firms across India and globally.

In his keynote, Chairperson K. Rajaraman highlighted GIFT IFSC’s evolution into a gateway for global capital, underpinned by a dual mandate of prudent regulation and purposeful innovation. He emphasized India’s strong medium-term outlook, supported by resilient demand, infrastructure-led growth, and digital public infrastructure.

IFSCA outlined the growing role of corporate treasury functions amid market volatility, forex risks, and cybersecurity challenges. The updated Treasury Centre framework (2025) offers operational flexibility, transactions in multiple foreign currencies, a light-touch regulatory regime, and tax incentives.

Key policy highlights included the extension of the IFSC tax holiday to 20 years out of 25, with a 15% tax rate thereafter, and proposals to expand permissible foreign currency transactions and enable commodity trading.

Discussions at the conference focused on GIFT IFSC’s transition into a global treasury hub, governance best practices, cross-border payment innovations, treasury technology (including AI and automation), and experiences of firms operating treasury centres in IFSC.

The event also featured knowledge sessions on treasury centralisation, cash concentration strategies, virtual accounts, and optimisation of treasury operations through IFSC structures, reinforcing GIFT City’s positioning as a global financial and treasury hub.