GIFT IFSC

Part III of IFSC Education Series: Legal Considerations for Setting Up Foreign University Campus in India: Mainland India vs GIFT IFSC

Summary: Building on Parts I and II of the IFSC Education Series, (I) Shaping Global Education: Foreign Universities in GIFT IFSC, and  (II) Setting up International Branch Campus or Offshore Education Campus in GIFT IFSC, respectively, this third instalment provides a comparative analysis of the regulatory frameworks governing campuses in Mainland India versus those in GIFT IFSC.Continue Reading Part III of IFSC Education Series: Legal Considerations for Setting Up Foreign University Campus in India: Mainland India vs GIFT IFSC

Enabling Differential Distribution for Alternative Investment Funds in IFSC

Summary: The International Financial Services Centres Authority (“IFSCA”) has proposed a new regulatory framework allowing Alternative Investment Funds (“AIFs”) in GIFT IFSC to create multiple unit classes with differential return profiles. The proposal facilitates AIFs with enhanced flexibility to raise capital from investors with varying risk appetites while also enabling blended finance structures that combine commercial, concessional, and philanthropic capital for sustainable investments. IFSCA’s proposed approach offers notably greater flexibility compared to SEBI’s domestic regulations, thereby enabling broader investor participation while maintaining robust investor protection measures.Continue Reading Enabling Differential Distribution for Alternative Investment Funds in IFSC

Summary: The International Financial Services Centres Authority (IFSCA) introduced regulations in 2022 permitting Foreign Universities to establish International Branch Campuses (IBC) and Offshore Educational Centres (OEC) in GIFT IFSC, marking India’s initiative to create an international education hub within a financial services centre. Foreign universities must meet specific eligibility criteria including ranking within the top 500 QS World University Rankings, proper accreditation in their home country, and demonstrated financial stability, whilst academic offerings are restricted to financial management, fintech, science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.Continue Reading IFSC Education Series – Part I – Shaping Global Education: Foreign Universities in GIFT IFSC

Fintech Hubs in IFSC

The International Financial Services Centres Authority (IFSCA) had notified its Fintech Incentive Scheme on February 2, 2022 (Scheme), setting up a framework to provide six grants to eligible applicants. The six grants, thematically, are for ESG financing (Green FinTech Grant), meant to provide early-stage capital for scaling up (FinTech Start-up Grant, Proof-of-Concept Grant, Sandbox Grant, Listing Support Grant), and aimed at supporting third-party incubation (Accelerator Grant), with the common thread among all being an intent to facilitate market access.Continue Reading Policy support for fintech hubs in IFSCs

GIFT City

Introduction

 In the 2022-23 Union Budget announcements on February 1, 2022 (“Budget”), the Finance Minister introduced a proposal to allow the entry of world-class foreign universities and institutions in Gujarat International Financial Tec-City IFSC (“GIFT IFSC”), to offer courses in subjects pertaining to financial management, fintech, science, technology, engineering, and mathematics, to facilitate the availability of skilled human capital for financial services and technology[1]. The announcement is seen as a progressive step, giving further impetus to promoting GIFT IFSC as the preferred International Financial Services Centre (IFSC) globally.Continue Reading GIFT City Opens Doors for Entry of Foreign Universities in India