Mutual Funds Can Now Invest in Overseas ETFs and MFs with Nominal Unlisted Exposure
No longer current — withdrawn, no replacement on file yet
Source: Reserve Bank of India · RBI/2006-2007/433 · issued 08 Jun 2007 · ~2 min read
Quick answerRBI expanded overseas investment scope for SEBI-registered mutual funds to include overseas mutual funds with up to 10% unlisted securities, overseas ETFs, and ADRs/GDRs of foreign companies. Monthly reporting to RBI continues with a revised format.
What changed
Previously, mutual funds could only invest in ADRs/GDRs of Indian companies, rated debt instruments, and equity of listed overseas companies. Now, they can also invest in overseas mutual funds that hold up to 10% in unlisted securities, overseas exchange-traded funds (ETFs), and ADRs/GDRs of foreign companies. The monthly reporting requirement to RBI continues but with a modified format to capture these new categories.
What it means for you
This liberalisation gives Indian mutual funds access to a broader range of overseas securities, potentially improving portfolio diversification and returns. For banks acting as authorised dealers, it means facilitating these new investment types for their mutual fund clients and ensuring accurate monthly reporting in the revised format. Banks should update their internal systems and client advisories to reflect the expanded investment options.
Historical instruction — do not use for current compliance. This is what was required at the time; it no longer reflects current RBI requirements. If no replacement rule is linked above, that only means none is recorded on our register yet — it does not prove no later applicable rule exists. Confirm on the official RBI source below.
What banks were required to do at the time
Update internal procedures to process mutual fund investments in overseas MFs (with ≤10% unlisted), ETFs, and foreign company ADRs/GDRs.
Communicate the new investment categories to mutual fund clients and advise on compliance with SEBI and FEMA regulations.
Revise monthly reporting templates to include the three new categories as per the annexed format and submit to RBI on time.
Ensure all transactions under this circular are recorded with proper documentation and without prejudice to other regulatory approvals.
Who it affects
Category-I Authorised Dealer Banks, SEBI-registered Mutual Funds, Mutual fund trustees and asset management companies, RBI's Foreign Exchange Department
❓ Common questions
Regulatory timeline
Decoded by BankPulse2026-06-19 16:31 IST
Status change: withdrawn05 Aug 2026, 04:00 IST
Built from our lineage records — each fact carries its provenance; missing history simply is not shown (never guessed).
What are the three new categories of overseas investments now allowed for mutual funds?
Mutual funds can now invest in (i) overseas mutual funds that have nominal investments (up to 10% of NAV) in unlisted overseas securities, (ii) overseas exchange-traded funds (ETFs) that invest in securities, and (iii) ADRs/GDRs of foreign companies.
Do the monthly reporting requirements to RBI change?
Yes, the monthly reporting continues but the format is revised to include the three new categories: overseas mutual funds, ETFs, and foreign company ADRs/GDRs. Banks must use the annexed format for submissions.
Which regulations govern this circular?
This circular is issued under Sections 10(4) and 11(1) of FEMA, 1999, and amends the Foreign Exchange Management (Transfer or Issue of Any Foreign Security) Regulations, 2004. Separate amendments to those regulations will follow.
📜 Read the original circular — full text as issued by RBI
RBI/2006-2007/433
A.P. (DIR Series) Circular No.72
June 8, 2007.
To
All Category- I Authorised Dealer Banks
Madam / Sirs,
Investment by Mutual Funds in Overseas Securities - Liberalisation
Attention of Authorised Dealer Category - I (AD Category - I ) banks is invited to Regulation 6C and Regulation 26 of Notification No.FEMA.120/RB-2004 dated 7 July 2004 , as amended, from time to time, AP (Dir Series) Circular No. 97 dated April 29, 2003 and AP.(DIR Series) Circular No. 3 dated July 26, 2006 .
2. Presently, Mutual Funds, registered with SEBI, are permitted to invest in ADRs/GDRs of Indian companies, rated debt instruments and also in the equity of overseas companies listed on a recognised stock exchange overseas. To enable the Mutual Funds to tap a larger investible stock overseas, it has been decided that they may also invest in
i) Overseas mutual funds that make nominal investments (say to the extent of 10% of net asset value) in unlisted overseas securities;
ii) Overseas exchange traded funds that invest in securities; and
iii) ADRs/GDRs of foreign companies.
3. Monthly reporting requirement to the Reserve Bank as stipulated vide A.P. (DIR Series) Circular No.3 dated July 26, 2006 would continue for statistical purposes with modifications to include the above three categories of investments. The revised format is annexed .
4. Necessary amendments to the Foreign Exchange Management (Transfer or Issue of Any Foreign Security) Regulations, 2004 will be issued separately.
5. AD Category - I banks may bring the contents of this circular to the notice of their constituents and customers.
6. The directions contained in this circular have been issued under Sections 10(4) and 11(1) of the Foreign Exchange Management Act, 1999 (42 of 1999) and are without prejudice to permissions / approvals, if any, required under any other law.
Yours faithfully,
Salim Gangadharan
Chief General Manager ANNEX
[Annex to A.P.(DIR Series) Circular No.72 dated 08.06.2007]
(USD in thousands)
Name
of
the Mutual Fund
Reproduced for reference with acknowledgment — Source: Reserve Bank of India · RBI/2006-2007/433 · issued 08 Jun 2007. The plain-English explanation above is BankPulse’s own independent summary.
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BankPulse Compliance Evidence Pack — generated 05 Aug 2026 · status cross-checked against RBI’s official withdrawal register (refreshed weekly). Official RBI source: https://www.rbi.org.in/Scripts/NotificationUser.aspx?Id=3583&Mode=0 — Plain-English summary by BankPulse (bankpulse.ai), reviewed by our expert reviewer, CA Amit Jain. Independent platform, not affiliated with the Reserve Bank of India; is our own plain-English paraphrase, not RBI’s original wording.
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