Chapter 02

Seven curated routes — public markets, private markets, and global access, architected by mandate.

07Global

International Funds

Global diversification, rupee-simple.

Curated access to the US, developed-market, and emerging-market equities — via feeder funds, FoFs, and the LRS route where appropriate.

International funds give Indian investors participation in global business, currency, and innovation trends — from Nasdaq mega-caps to emerging-market consumer stories.

Fine hairline longitude arcs on ivory — global diversification, rupee-simple.
Fig. 07International FundsGlobal
Horizon
5 – 15+ years
Risk
High
Liquidity
T+4 to T+6
Ticket size
₹5,000+ (feeder) / $250K LRS

How it works

A four-step process
01

Frame the thesis

USD hedge, tech exposure, or true diversification — the objective determines the vehicle.

02

Choose the route

Feeder funds in ₹; LRS for direct US brokerage; GIFT City for institutional-grade wrappers.

03

Size the sleeve

Typically 10–25% of equity, capped to preserve rupee-earnings alignment.

04

Report cleanly

Consolidated statements bridge INR NAV, USD holdings, FX, and taxation.

Chapter — Fit

Who this is for.

International Funds is not for every investor — and that is the point. We choose it deliberately, when the mandate calls for it.

  • 01Families with USD liabilities (education, real estate)
  • 02Portfolios overexposed to Indian mid/small caps
  • 03Investors seeking innovation and reserve-currency exposure
  • 04NRIs planning multi-jurisdiction wealth

Why it works

Structural advantages
01 / 04

Currency hedge

USD-denominated assets offset rupee depreciation over long horizons.

02 / 04

Sector access

Public exposure to sectors India's market underweights — semi, biotech, hyperscalers.

03 / 04

Diversification

True low-correlation over rolling 5-year windows.

04 / 04

Wealth planning

Aligns portfolio with global spend, education, and estate footprints.

Reference — Portfolio & Access

Regulatory framework

International funds enable participation in markets outside India by holding one or more of the following in the portfolio.

01

Foreign Listed Equity

Direct equity of companies listed on international exchanges.

02

ADRs & GDRs

American and Global Depository Receipts of Indian companies listed abroad.

03

Foreign Listed Debt

Bonds and debt of companies listed on international exchanges.

04

Country ETFs

Exchange-traded funds tracking foreign country or region indices.

05

Passive Index Funds Abroad

Units of passively managed index funds in other jurisdictions.

06

Active Foreign Funds

Units of actively managed mutual funds domiciled abroad.

  • 01

    International funds may hold a portion in Indian equity, debt, or money-market instruments to manage liquidity.

  • 02

    Risks include political and macro factors, currency movements on redemption, and changes in a country's policy toward global investors.

  • 03

    For taxation, these are treated as non-equity oriented mutual fund schemes.

Considerations

What we tell you before you commit.

  • 01

    Currency volatility can offset equity returns near-term.

  • 02

    Tax treatment less favourable than domestic equity funds.

  • 03

    RBI limits on international allocations can pause fresh inflows.

Frequently asked

Answered plainly
  • Feeder is simpler and rupee-native; LRS gives direct US brokerage access and estate-tax planning options. We advise by mandate size.

  • International funds are taxed as non-equity (slab, post-2023). We factor this into net-of-tax return expectations.

Ready to explore this route for your portfolio?

A private, no-obligation conversation with one of our advisers — begin with your mandate, not a product.