GIFT City has climbed nine places to 37th globally in the latest Global Financial Centres Index (GFCI 40), compared with 46th in the previous edition. It has also entered the top 15 financial centres in the Asia Pacific region and improved its global FinTech ranking.
The development comes as GIFT City continues to expand its financial services ecosystem and strengthen its role in cross border financial activity.
GIFT City moves up in global rankings
The Global Financial Centres Index (GFCI 40) is published by Z/Yen Group and the China Development Institute. The index evaluates financial centres using 144 quantitative factors and assessments from financial sector professionals. These include factors such as access to finance, skilled talent, regulatory environment, technology and infrastructure.
GIFT City has moved from 46th to 37th in the overall ranking. It is now among the top 15 financial centres in the Asia Pacific region and is the only Indian financial centre in that group.
Its FinTech ranking has also improved. GIFT City moved up three places to 26th globally, from 29th in the previous edition.
The latest index has also placed GIFT City among 15 financial centres that respondents expect to become more significant over the next two to three years. This reflects expectations captured through the GFCI survey and is not a guarantee of future growth.
Why is this significant?
GIFT City is India’s first International Financial Services Centre. Its ecosystem covers areas such as banking, capital markets, insurance, fund management and FinTech.
The International Financial Services Centres Authority (IFSCA) is the unified authority responsible for developing and regulating financial products, financial services and financial institutions in India’s International Financial Services Centres.
According to IFSCA, GIFT IFSC had 1,260 registrations and authorisations and banking assets of more than USD 120 billion as of June 2026. Funds in the IFSC had also raised cumulative commitments of more than USD 45 billion.
The rise in the GFCI ranking comes as GIFT City continues to focus on increasing market participation, strengthening international connectivity and supporting more sophisticated cross border financial activity.
What does this mean for you?
GIFT City’s growing position as an international financial centre could create more opportunities for individuals, NRIs and businesses as its financial ecosystem develops.
For NRIs and OCIs, GIFT IFSC can provide access to a range of international financial services. IFSCA’s guidance for NRIs and OCIs covers areas such as banking, insurance, capital markets and asset management.
For Indian residents, the development could gradually bring more opportunities to access global financial markets through eligible products and structures available within the GIFT IFSC framework.
A deeper financial ecosystem can also support businesses involved in cross border finance and international financial activity.
However, a higher position in the GFCI does not mean that every product available through GIFT City will be suitable for everyone. The relevance of any product will depend on eligibility, regulations, costs, risks and individual financial circumstances.
What comes next for GIFT City?
The latest GFCI report highlights digital infrastructure, cybersecurity, FinTech, financial crime controls and deeper capital markets as important areas for financial centres over the coming years.
For GIFT City, the focus will now be on converting its growing global recognition into deeper market participation and stronger international connectivity.
Its move from 46th to 37th globally is an important development for India’s international financial ecosystem. More importantly, the ranking highlights GIFT City’s growing presence among global financial centres.
