Forex is one of the largest markets around the world. According to the 2021 data, the total worth of the Forex market is estimated at US$1.93 quadrillion. Many people are trading Forex; however, many traders ask whether it is legal or illegal to trade FX because of the vague restrictions and regulations.
India is one of the countries where Forex trading is legal. India Forex trading is regulated by the Foreign Exchange Management Act, 1999 (FEMA). What’s more, FEMA is not the only thing that governs Foreign Exchange trading. It regulates other branches in India, as well. However, it is worth mentioning that India’s apex foreign exchange regulator is the Reserve Bank of India, also known as RBI. This authority regulates the transactions and their approvals and allows people to trade Forex in India.
It is worth noting that the brokers or trading platforms can be foreign. Through the Indian regulation, there is no obligation of trading with a broker or trading platform that is located within the country. In this guide, you’ll learn how currency trading in India works, the main opportunities people can get through it, and what regulations and restrictions are worth considering.
How Does Forex Trading Work in India?
The Forex market, as already mentioned in the beginning, is one of the biggest markets in the world. To start trading, traders need to know at least basic Forex terms, their significance in the market, and how they work. Through trading, Forex investors are allowed to exchange one currency against another. However, as a trader, you must consider that you must trade with currency pairs.
Traders are allowed to trade with major, minor, exotic currency pairs. All the rules related to Forex are the same for those interested in trading Foreign exchange in India.
Traders from India who want to be involved in Forex trading can conduct trading processes through the trading platforms and the brokers. The main things worth considering are the broker offers, the features and indicators, and all the benefits provided by trading platforms.
You need to find an authorized and regulated, trustworthy broker. The Forex market is pretty big, which means that you’ll meet quite a lot of scammers. To avoid losing your funds, you need to find a regulated Forex broker and take into account the use reviews. What’s more, after finding the broker for Forex trading in India, you need to open an account and fill it up with Rupees. To make it more simple to understand, let’s discuss all of the above-written steps in more detail.
Find an authorized Forex broker
The next significant step for trading Forex in India is finding an authorized and regulated Forex broker. The main idea behind finding an authorized Forex broker is that you are protected from losing your funds illegally through this action. You can find some of the Forex brokers in the India Forex broker list. There are a few steps to selecting the perfect broker for you.
India forex brokersFirst, ensure that the broker is authorized by SEBI, also known as the Securities and Exchange Board of India, the regulatory body, conducts, regulates, and approves the trading processes and transactions. Second, check if the broker has a good reputation. The broker’s reputation can be measured by the users’ sentiments, reviews, comments, and rates.
Third, check the offers and bonuses you can get from the broker. Youtube can find top brokers in India through these steps, but there could be more detailed info you can strive for.
Ensure that the broker offers you a high leverage ratio with low margins. Through that, you are allowed to get higher payouts with fewer funds. Also, it is worth considering that the broker offers you a well-maintained and suitable trading platform.
Another thing to consider is the high brokerage charges. It is best if you always take a look at what the broker could charge you for. For this, you need to check the available spreads, commissions, and any hidden fees on the website. Should you consider all of the steps we provided above, finding the best broker in India should be a piece of cake.
Open Forex trading account
The next step for starting currency trading in India is to open the Forex trading account. After you find an authorized and trustworthy broker, you can open the account. There are several types of accounts, in general. These accounts offer you multiple features and indicators for analyzing the FX market and making rational and successful decisions. Until you open the account, you can try the demo version. The demo version is like a tutorial but with fake money, so there’s no risk at all.
Access to the trading platform
After finding the best trading platform in India, you can have access to all the features and indicators. You don’t have to download the platform or anything of the sort; the broker provides it free of charge. Through the trading platform, investors are allowed to place their orders. What’s more, you can get several benefits through the training platforms, like real-time news, economic calendar, data analyzing, auto-trading opportunities, and indicators that are worthwhile for FX trading.
Start Forex trading
The last step is to start Forex trading. After you get the broker and the trading platform, you can place your first trading order. The main thing is that you have to deposit money in your trading account in advance. After that, you can get access to the FX market and start trading with the most preferable and suitable assets for your strategy.
You can implement your strategy with the use of the best trading app in India, as well. As long as most trading platforms allow investors to conduct trading through the web, some brokers are offering you to start trading with the use of mobile apps. Through mobile apps, as long as you have an internet connection, you can trade from anywhere and anytime.
How is FX trading regulated in India?
For avoiding scammer brokers in FX trading, it’s essential to find a regulated broker, which guarantees the safety of your funds. There are some cases when the brokers offer you high leverage to attract your attention and start trading with them. The regulation system can be one of the best ways to avoid any unnecessary losses So, how does the regulation system work in India for Forex brokers?
Forex brokers in India are regulated by the SEBI. It is the regulatory body that operates under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Finance and the Government of India. The agency was founded in 1988, and its headquarters is situated in Mumbai, India.
The mentioned regulatory body’s functions are to approve exchanges and transactions, make sure all financial companies offering services in India are registered under its name, inspect the books of accounts, etc. What’s more, it is worth mentioning that SEBI is operating through the guidelines of FEMA on Forex trading.
Also, it has to be noted that India actively controls overseas loans and the policies linked to offshore brokers. The above-discussed regulated system protects traders from losing their funds. The main idea is that SEBI takes control of the brokers situated in India, and they cannot expand their jurisdiction to foreign brokers.
Best india forex broker listSo, until you start trading Forex in India, you need to make sure that the broker is regulated and authorized by SEBI. The majority of regulated brokers in India allow investors to trade with INR-related currency pairs. So, if the broker offers you other currency pairs to trade with, you need to check the broker’s legality and whether it’s authorized or not.
And what if you want to trade Forex with international brokers? The main thing is that transacting your money to foreign brokers is against the laws and is strictly prohibited. If the trader violates the existing laws and goes against them, the penalties will affect a trader.
And if you are going to conduct trading with the help of an overseas broker, you need to get help from an expert and make sure that the actions you are implementing aren’t going against the laws. What’s more, you need to be more careful while searching the broker because there are some brokers with bountiful offers that are scammers. Furthermore, you need to spend some time researching the reviews about the brokers. Through them, you can find out the main advantages and disadvantages of a particular broker.
Besides, if you aren’t a resident of India, you can trade with overseas brokers without restrictions and prohibitions. If you are a non-resident, you are free to choose a Forex broker and find the most suitable for implementing your strategy.
The final word on Forex trading in India
Currency trading in India is entirely legal. Therefore, whenever you choose to start trading, there’s pretty much nothing holding you back. There are no severe restrictions on offshore brokers either. So, if you’re a foreigner residing in India or an Indian citizen with an already existing account on a foreign broker, you shouldn’t face any issues as well.
Overall, the only thing that could somehow hamper your decision on FX trading is the existence of fraudulent companies. But that’s what SEBI is there for. If you see that the broker says they have a license from SEBI, that doesn’t mean you can go ahead and register straight away. Make sure to go to SEBI’s website and check the License # the broker is showcasing. If it’s still in the database, then you can go ahead and register. But if the number cannot be found, it’s best to avoid that brand.
