India

Economy & industry overview

India is the world's fifth-largest economy by nominal GDP and the most populous country, with a nominal GDP of approximately $3.91 trillion (World Bank, 2024). The economy is driven by a large services sector—particularly information technology, business process outsourcing, and financial services—alongside manufacturing, agriculture, and a rapidly expanding digital economy. India has sustained real GDP growth above 6% annually in recent years, making it one of the fastest-growing major economies globally. Key structural strengths include a large and young working-age population, a growing middle class, a deep domestic capital market, and ongoing government investment in infrastructure under initiatives such as Make in India and the National Infrastructure Pipeline. Inflation has moderated to approximately 2.4% (World Bank, 2025 estimate) while the RBI maintains an inflation-targeting framework with a 4% CPI target.

Key sectors

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Macro

GDP nominal, USD	$3.91T
GDP growth real, annual	6.5%
Inflation annual	2.4%
Population people	1.45B
GDP per capita USD	$2,397
Market cap total listed, USD	$3.64T
Market cap / GDP	93.0%
Unemployment	4.2%
Listed companies	1,717
Exchange	National Stock Exchange of India (NSE)

Data year: 2024. Sources: World Bank – World Development Indicators (2024/2025), IMF – World Economic Outlook (April 2026), Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation, Government of India – National Accounts Statistics FY2024-25, Reserve Bank of India, National Stock Exchange of India (NSE), BSE Limited, SEBI – Securities and Exchange Board of India, India Brand Equity Foundation (IBEF), Trading Economics, Press Information Bureau, Government of India.

Local exchange & access

Exchange	National Stock Exchange of India
Code	NSE
Website	www.nseindia.com
Currency	INR

Local broker access

Foreign Portfolio Investors (FPIs) can access Indian listed equities directly after registering with SEBI under the FPI Regulations, 2019, through a Designated Depository Participant (DDP). Retail foreign investors without FPI registration may access Indian equities through US-listed ETFs (e.g., INDA, INDY, SMIN) or through US-listed ADRs of Indian companies (e.g., INFY, WIT, HDB, IBN). NRIs may invest through NRE/NRO brokerage accounts with SEBI-registered brokers under the Portfolio Investment Scheme (PIS). Direct equity investment on NSE/BSE by non-resident non-FPIs is restricted.

Global brokers with foreign-market access

• Interactive Brokers — Direct access to 90+ markets worldwide, including many emerging exchanges.
• Saxo Bank — Multi-market access across Asia, Europe and the Middle East.
• Charles Schwab (Global) — Foreign ordinary shares on select markets; US-listed ADRs and ETFs.
• Fidelity International Trading — International stock trading on a number of developed and emerging markets.

Listed for convenience only — not a recommendation. Available markets, fees and onboarding rules differ by broker and by your country of residence.

Relocation & residency

Foreign-investor access

Foreign nationals wishing to reside in India long-term typically require an Employment Visa, Business Visa, or Entry Visa (X-Visa) sponsored by an eligible entity. The OCI card provides quasi-residency rights to persons of Indian descent but is not an investment-migration instrument. India does not permit foreigners to purchase agricultural land; residential and commercial property purchase by non-residents is subject to FEMA (Foreign Exchange Management Act) regulations.