What Are The Available Investment Options For NRI's?

"Although plenty of individuals have settled abroad, they still maintain a form of investment back in their home country. Through this, an NRI can invest through two different routes, namely the automatic route or the government route where prior permission is required from the government before an investment is made.

But when it comes to selecting the right option for investment, there are plenty of options available, each with different features and restrictions. These options can also be used for short term or long term investment goals. Given below are some options you can consider:

Non-Resident Ordinary Rupee Account (NRO):

This is one of the popular NRI accounts that several individuals have opted for, especially for individuals who are looking to deposit or manage earnings from India. Foreign funds can also be deposited in this account. In both cases, the funds that are deposited in the account will earn interest. The interest, however, is subjected to income tax deductions at the source plus applicable surcharges. However, repatriation is only allowed under certain circumstances, such as the upper limit for sending funds is only 1 million USD in a single financial year. Additionally, you will need a tax paid certificate from a certified CA before you repatriate any funds.

Non-Resident External Rupee Account (NRE):

The NRE account is the second NRI account that is a popular option amongst other NRI's, who want to deposit funds earned abroad and transferred to India. The funds that you invest in this account will be converted into Indian rupees, with the conversion value taken at a rate prevailing at the time of deposit. The funds in this account, which includes the principal amount as well as the interest, are repatriable, without any conditions.

Foreign Currency Non-Resident Bank Deposits (FCNR):

The FCNR account is mostly used for termed deposits, especially if you want to deposit foreign currency. Like any other termed deposit, this account will help provide the ideal protection against fluctuating market conditions and volatile currency values. This account can be opened jointly with an Indian resident. However, the account must be made for a minimum maturity period of one year, and a maximum period of 5 years. The interest earned in this account is tax

Free, while the principal amount is taxed, this is calculated through home loan interest calculation.

National Pension Scheme (NPS):

Through this scheme, the policyholder can invest funds in creating a corpus, while also opening a post annuity retirement. Individuals between the years of 18 to 60 years can invest in this scheme. However, unlike the other accounts, this account can be held only by an individual. Once the policy is opened, a PRAN is provided which is the Permanent Retirement Account Number. However, this scheme is only allotted to individuals who hold an NRI status and a citizenship of India. If at any point, an NRI gives up his citizenship, the account is closed."

[Source: http://www.sooperarticles.com/finance-articles/what-available-investment-options-nris-1536535.html]