Sebi mulls allowing NRIs through FPI route after meeting specific KYC norms

Move will help do away with several curbs on NRI investments, opening a new source for foreign inflows

The Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) is looking at including non-resident Indians (NRIs) in the foreign portfolio investors quota. Sources said the regulator had written to the central government, seeking its opinion on this. 

The move could open a new source for foreign inflows into the country, as NRIs are currently not big investors because of regulatory curbs. 

NRIs usually take the mutual fund route. However, this does not allow them to make company-specific investments.

While India, on average, receives NRI remittances of $10-15 billion every year, the total assets owned by NRI investors in Indian equities are