The International Financial Services Centres Authority (IFSCA) on February 24, 2026, issued Consultation paper on the draft International Financial Services Centres Authority (IFSC Financial Advisers) Regulations, 2026.
The objective of this consultation paper is to invite comments and suggestions from market participants, stakeholders and the public on the proposed International Financial Services Centres Authority (IFSC Financial Advisers) Regulations, 2026.
The Draft Regulations are aimed at providing a regulatory environment for Financial Institutions(FI) in IFSC with a view to put in place a structured and institution anchored regulatory framework for engagement of IFSC Financial Advisers by such Institutions for the purpose of rendering or soliciting any of the financial services under section 3(1)(e)(xii) of IFSCA Act, 2019. The framework also aims to strengthen investor protection right form the advisory stage and also align IFSC’s regulatory architecture with globally accepted financial advisory standards, which will facilitate enhanced participation of retail and Non-Resident Indian (NRI) investors with GIFT-IFSC ecosystem.
A dedicated advisory framework is proposed to regulate pre-execution financial advice that significantly shapes investment decisions but currently operates with limited oversight, especially when delivered by independent or overseas relationship managers. By extending supervision across the full client journey—from engagement and risk profiling to onboarding and execution—the framework aims to strengthen investor protection and market integrity. It also seeks to support growing cross-border participation, particularly from the large Indian diaspora investing through GIFT IFSC, by enabling transparent, fiduciary-oriented advisory services that enhance confidence among retail and NRI investors while ensuring clear accountability and robust safeguards.
In view of the above, comments from Market Participants, Stakeholders, and General public are invited on the proposed draft International Financial Services Centres Authority (IFSC Financial Advisors) Regulations, 2026 as placed at Annexure-1.
Comments / suggestions are to be forwarded via email to [email protected] with a copy to Shri Kalpesh Kumar Mehta, AGM, IFSCA at [email protected] and Shri Harish Jhajharia, AM, IFSCA at [email protected] with subject line Comments on draft IFSCA (IFSC Financial Advisors) Regulations, 2026 latest by March 16, 2026.
[eFile No. IFSCA-TAS/3/2025-FSSRD]
