Current · Source: Reserve Bank of India · RBI/FED/2024-25/121 · issued 24 Jul 2024 · ~2 min read
Quick answerRBI consolidated and updated the Master Direction on Overseas Investment (FED MD No.15/2024-25) as of July 24, 2024, with updates as on April 1, 2026 and November 28, 2025. It governs overseas investments by Indian residents under FEMA, 1999, and provides operational instructions for AD Category-I banks.
The rule, in the simplest words
Indian people and companies need to follow special rules when they invest money in other countries.
Banks that are allowed to handle foreign money (AD Category-I banks) must check that these rules are followed.
The rules were updated on April 1, 2026 and November 28, 2025, so banks must use the latest version.
Banks must tell their customers about these rules and report the investments online using a special system.
How it plays out — a real example
A forex & trade-finance officer in Indore is processing a customer's request to invest in a small business in Dubai. She checks the updated Master Direction to make sure the investment is allowed, then explains the rules to the customer and submits the details through the bank's online reporting system as required by the RBI.
What changed
The Master Direction was updated as on April 1, 2026, and November 28, 2025, consolidating all prior circulars on overseas investment. It aligns with the Foreign Exchange Management (Overseas Investment) Rules, 2022, and Regulations, 2022, and includes reporting instructions referenced in Master Direction No. 18.
What it means for you
Banks must ensure compliance with the updated rules for processing overseas investments by Indian entities and individuals. The direction clarifies exemptions, approvals, pricing, and reporting requirements, reducing ambiguity for lenders. AD Category-I banks are responsible for disseminating these instructions to customers and ensuring accurate online reporting.
What you must do
Review the updated Master Direction and ensure your bank's internal policies align with the latest provisions.
Train staff handling overseas investment transactions on the new definitions, exemptions, and procedural requirements.
Update customer communication materials to reflect the current rules for overseas investment applications.
Verify that your bank's online reporting system for overseas investments is compliant with Part VIII of Master Direction No. 18.
Who it affects
AD Category-I banks, Indian entities making overseas investments, Resident individuals investing abroad, Authorised Persons under FEMA
❓ Common questions
What is the effective date of this Master Direction?
The Master Direction was issued on July 24, 2024, and updated as on April 1, 2026, and November 28, 2025.
Does this direction apply to all overseas investments?
It applies to overseas investments by persons resident in India, subject to exemptions and approvals as specified in the OI Rules and Regulations.
What are the key responsibilities for AD banks under this direction?
AD banks must process overseas investment requests in compliance with the rules, ensure proper reporting, and bring the contents to the notice of their customers.
📜 Read the original circular — full text as issued by RBI
RBI/FED/2024-25/121
FED Master Direction No.15/2024-25
July 24, 2024
(Updated as on April 01, 2026)
(Updated as on November 28, 2025)
To
All Authorised Dealer Category – I banks
Madam/Sir
Master Direction - Overseas Investment
Overseas Investments by persons resident in India are governed by the provisions of Foreign Exchange Management (Overseas Investment) Rules, 2022 (OI Rules) notified by the Central Government vide Notification No. G.S.R. 646(E) dated August 22, 2022 and Foreign Exchange Management (Overseas Investment) Regulations, 2022 (OI Regulations) notified by the Reserve Bank vide Notification No. FEMA 400/2022-RB dated August 22, 2022 .
2. In terms of Rule 3 of OI Rules, the Reserve Bank is empowered to administer these Rules and to issue regulations and directions/ circulars as it may deem necessary, for the effective implementation of the provisions of these Rules. The Reserve Bank, therefore, issues directions to Authorised Persons under Section 11 of the Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA), 1999. These directions lay down the modalities as to how the foreign exchange business has to be conducted by the Authorised Persons with their customers/ constituents with a view to implementing the OI Rules and the OI Regulations.
3. Instructions issued on Overseas Investment by persons resident in India have been compiled in this Master Direction . The list of underlying circulars which form the basis of this Master Direction is furnished in the Annex I . Reporting instructions related to Overseas Investment are provided in Part VIII of Master Direction no. 18 on 'Reporting under Foreign Exchange Management Act, 1999' dated January 01, 2016 . AD Category-I Banks may bring the contents of these Directions to the notice of their customers / constituents concerned.
4. This Master Direction has 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
(N Senthil Kumar)
Chief General Manager
Master Direction - Overseas Investment
These Directions shall be called Master Direction - Overseas Investment which shall be read with the provisions contained in Foreign Exchange Management (Overseas Investment) Rules, 2022 (hereinafter referred to as "OI Rules") and Foreign Exchange Management (Overseas Investment) Regulations, 2022 (hereinafter referred to as "OI Regulations").
INDEX
Reproduced for reference with acknowledgment — Source: Reserve Bank of India · RBI/FED/2024-25/121 · issued 24 Jul 2024. The plain-English explanation above is BankPulse’s own independent summary.
Update customer communication materials to reflect the current rules for overseas investment applications.
Verify that your bank's online reporting system for overseas investments is compliant with Part VIII of Master Direction No. 18.
📜 Compliance
Review the updated Master Direction and ensure your bank's internal policies align with the latest provisions.
Train staff handling overseas investment transactions on the new definitions, exemptions, and procedural requirements.
Grouped from the action items above — a single circular may involve more than one team.
Worked example & action-note template
Example: if you are a Compliance officer at a bank this circular applies to (AD Category-I banks, Indian entities making overseas investments, Resident individuals investing abroad, Authorised Persons under FEMA), your first concrete step on “Master Direction on Overseas Investment Updated” is: “Review the updated Master Direction and ensure your bank's internal policies align with the latest provisions.” (RBI issued this 24 Jul 2024).
Circular: RBI/FED/2024-25/121 -- Master Direction on Overseas Investment Updated
Issued: 24 Jul 2024
Action required: Review the updated Master Direction and ensure your bank's internal policies align with the latest provisions.
Action required: Train staff handling overseas investment transactions on the new definitions, exemptions, and procedural requirements.
Action required: Update customer communication materials to reflect the current rules for overseas investment applications.
Action required: Verify that your bank's online reporting system for overseas investments is compliant with Part VIII of Master Direction No. 18.
Owner: ____________ Target date: ____________
Board/committee approval needed? Y / N
Evidence filed in compliance register on: ____________
Built only from this circular’s own published fields — not legal advice; always confirm against the official RBI source.
💬 Banker Discussion
Discuss this circular with fellow bankers — reply, upvote what helps, report what doesn’t belong. Be professional; no client data. Views are the commenter’s own, not BankPulse’s.
BankPulse Compliance Evidence Pack — generated 03 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=12710&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.
Help us keep this accurate
Found an inaccuracy or have an improvement? Tell us. Every report is reviewed by our team before any change is made — nothing goes live unverified.
Public beta — plain-English informational summaries. Always verify against the official RBI source (circular number cited on every page) before making compliance, credit, treasury, audit, or operational decisions. · Join our WhatsApp channel ↗
BANKPULSE · FREE DAILY BRIEF
Get RBI updates for your role
Every important RBI update, decoded in plain English — for your career, exams & financial awareness.
We collect only your email, name and role, used solely to send your brief — never sold or shared. Withdraw anytime via the unsubscribe link in any email. Independent platform, not affiliated with the RBI. Information, not legal advice.
REPORT AN ERROR · BETA
Spotted an error? Earn 500 BankPulse Credits
Help us stay accurate. If your correction is verified true and approved by our founder, you earn 500 BankPulse Credits — redeemable when the platform monetises.
Reviewed by a human before any credit is awarded. We never change the site from crowd input without verification.
WANT A NEW FEATURE · BETA
What would make BankPulse more useful for you?
Tell us what to build next — a tool, a data view, a role page, anything. We read every suggestion.
Thank you — your ideas directly shape what we build.