CFP® professionals will be eligible to be a Principal Officer of a distributor or an Investment Advisor, or a Research Entity at the International Financial Services Centre (IFSC), Gift City. This is as per the INTERNATIONAL FINANCIAL SERVICES CENTRES AUTHORITY (CAPITAL MARKET INTERMEDIARIES) REGULATIONS, 2025. IFSCA is the unified regulatory authority responsible for the development and regulation of financial products, financial services, and financial institutions in India’s International Financial Services Centre (IFSC).
THE GAZETTE OF INDIA: EXTRAORDINARY [PART III—SEC.4] INTERNATIONAL FINANCIAL SERVICES CENTRES AUTHORITY NOTIFICATION mentions
“In respect of a principal officer of a distributor or an investment adviser or a research entity, a graduate degree in any field from a university or an institution recognised by the Central Government or any State Government or a foreign university along with a certification as a Certified Financial Planner from Financial Planning Standards Board shall also suffice.”
“A capital market intermediary shall ensure that the principal officer and compliance officer meet the experience requirements. A principal officer shall have an experience of at least three years in the financial services market.”
FPSB India is the Indian subsidiary of Financial Planning Standards Board Ltd. (FPSB Ltd.), the global standards-setting body for the financial planning profession and owner of the international CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® certification program. Notably, CFP® certification is the only globally recognized mark of professionalism for financial planning, setting the benchmark for expertise, ethics, and professionalism. Globally, there are 230,648 CFP® professionals worldwide of which 3,215 are in India. India is amongst the world’s top growth markets for CFP® professionals.
Speaking on this development, Krishan Mishra, CEO, FPSB India, said, “We are honoured that CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® professionals have been recognized to contribute to the talent requirements of the IFSC, Gift City. With their deep expertise in financial products, services, and client-centric planning, CFP® professionals are well-equipped to support capital market intermediaries and elevate industry standards. We thank the International Financial Services Centres Authority (IFSCA) for this forward-looking recognition, which not only validates the value of the CFP® certification but also aligns with India’s vision of building a world-class international financial hub.”
This development follows FPSB India’s recent collaboration with IIM Ahmedabad, wherein they co-launched an Executive Program in Financial Planning and Investment Advisory Services in March 2025.
