The Certificate in IFSC & GIFT City is Equalifi’s exam-based qualification for professionals who want to understand, advise on and do business through India’s International Financial Services Centre. It recognises a sound command of how GIFT IFSC works: its legal and regulatory architecture, the businesses it permits, the tax and exchange-control framework that makes it competitive, and the opportunities it creates for Indian and global capital.
GIFT IFSC is reshaping how Indian businesses borrow, list and manage treasury, how resident Indians and NRIs invest globally, how families structure their wealth, and how global investors access India. Banking, capital markets, fund management, family investment funds, insurance, aircraft and ship leasing, bullion, FinTech and global business services are all being built here, under a single unified regulator. The Certificate equips candidates to understand this ecosystem end to end and to evaluate a GIFT IFSC strategy with confidence.
The Certificate covers 20 modules across five areas:
| Area | Modules |
|---|---|
| Foundations | International financial centres · GIFT City and the IFSC ecosystem · Legal and regulatory architecture · Setting up in GIFT IFSC |
| Financial services | Banking · Capital markets, exchanges and listing · Capital market intermediaries · Fund management · Family investment funds and wealth structuring · Insurance and reinsurance |
| Specialised businesses | Aircraft and ship leasing · Bullion and commodities · Finance companies, treasury and global business services · FinTech and TechFin · Sustainable finance |
| Tax and compliance | Taxation in IFSC · Exchange control and cross-border flows · AML, KYC and compliance |
| Strategy | Opportunities for businesses, investors and professionals · Global competitiveness and the future of GIFT IFSC |
The Certificate is assessed through a single MCQ examination, with knowledge, application and case-based questions.
What you will learn
- Explain how GIFT IFSC compares with Singapore, Dubai, Hong Kong, London and other international financial centres
- Understand the IFSCA framework and the regulations governing each line of business
- Navigate set-up, licensing, registration and ongoing compliance for an IFSC unit
- Structure funds, family investment funds and wealth for resident Indian, NRI and globally mobile families
- Apply the tax regime for IFSC units, funds, investors and transactions
- Apply FEMA, the Liberalised Remittance Scheme and cross-border investment rules to IFSC transactions
- Meet AML, KYC, sanctions, CRS and FATCA obligations
- Identify and evaluate GIFT IFSC opportunities for corporates, investors, financial institutions and professional firms
Who should take the exam?
Wealth managers, private bankers and family-office professionals, fund managers and fund-operations teams, bankers and treasury professionals, chartered accountants, company secretaries, lawyers and tax advisers, compliance and risk professionals, corporate finance and CFO teams, professionals working in or moving to GIFT City, and NRIs and family-business members exploring global structuring through IFSC.
Career opportunities
IFSC banking units · Fund management entities · Family offices and family investment funds · Wealth management and private banking · Capital market intermediaries · Insurance and reinsurance · Aircraft and ship leasing · Bullion and commodities · Corporate treasury centres · FinTech · Tax, legal and regulatory advisory · Compliance and AML
Important
The Certificate in IFSC & GIFT City is an educational qualification awarded by Equalifi. It does not constitute a regulatory licence or authorisation from IFSCA or any other authority, and it does not replace any certification that IFSCA requires for key managerial personnel or other roles in IFSC entities.
Exam details
Equalifi offers the examination through an external, remote-proctored platform. Once registration and payment are confirmed, candidates receive an exam link by email. Candidates may schedule and take the exam at any time within one year of registration, subject to the platform’s requirements.
Candidates need a reliable internet connection and a computer with a working camera. Please read the technical and exam-day instructions before beginning the exam.
| Sr. No. | Name of module | Type of questions | Test duration | No. of questions | Passing Criteria | Negative marking |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Certificate in IFSC & GIFT City | MCQ | 2 hours | 100 | 60% | 20% per incorrect answer |
Validity
The Certificate in IFSC & GIFT City does not expire. Given the pace of regulatory change in GIFT IFSC, certificate holders are encouraged to stay current through Equalifi’s knowledge sessions and masterclasses.
Candidate audit
Equalifi audits a percentage of applications at random on a regular basis. Candidates are responsible for providing the requested supporting documentation to verify the education and professional background stated in their registration form. Equalifi does not contact employers or educational institutions to obtain verification documents on a candidate’s behalf.
Candidates selected for audit are notified by email and have 10 business days to respond. They must meet the audit requirements before receiving the certificate.
Failure to comply with the audit, falsification or misrepresentation of information, or any unprofessional conduct will result in denial or cancellation of the registration and/or revocation of the certificate, and all fees will be forfeited. A candidate who does not comply with an audit will also be subject to audit when reapplying in future.
Fee details
Exam fee: INR 2,360
The fee is inclusive of GST and applies to each attempt.
Access Pass benefits
Fee waiver: Equalifi Chartered, Professional and Virtual Pass holders receive a 50% waiver on the exam fee.
Exam preparation: Access Pass holders receive exam preparatory material on the Equalifi portal. Candidates are also encouraged to attend Equalifi’s executive education programmes, masterclasses and delegations on GIFT IFSC. Access Pass holders receive a 10% to 50% fee waiver based on their pass category.
Learn more about the Equalifi Access Pass.