Archive · 3 Oct 2026
FPIs Withdraw ₹35,860 Crore as Indian Stocks Face Global Competition
Foreign investors put money into Indian shares in July and August, but took out ₹35,860 crore in September.
Indian share prices also fell sharply that month.
India’s market regulator is making it easier for foreign investors to register and invest.
But easier access does not guarantee that investors will choose Indian shares.
They compare the returns they could get in India with those available in other countries.
Higher US bond yields, costly oil, and a weaker rupee can make Indian investments less attractive to them.
Analysts say global market conditions and company results may affect whether foreign investors return.
Foreign portfolio investors withdrew ₹35,860 crore from Indian equities in September, reversing inflows in July and August.
The withdrawals followed two months of inflows: ₹20,200 crore in July and ₹29,630 crore in August.
The Nifty 50 and Sensex each fell nearly 6% in September.
SEBI is simplifying FPI onboarding and access, including digital registration and streamlined KYC, and is working with the RBI on further measures.
Officials and market analysts say flows also depend on net returns, US yields, crude prices, currency movements, and competing investment opportunities.
- Who
- Foreign portfolio investors (FPIs), with SEBI and the RBI working on access and regulatory measures.
- What
- FPIs withdrew ₹35,860 crore from Indian equities in September after investing in July and August.
- When
- September; SEBI Chairman Tuhin Kanta Pandey discussed the reforms with Moneycontrol on October 3.
- Where
- Indian equity markets.
- Why
- Investors weigh net returns and global alternatives, including US yields, crude oil prices, currency movements, and broader risk.
Regulatory access
Investment attractiveness
What reforms can achieve
Regulatory access
SEBI says easier onboarding, access, and cooperation with the RBI can reduce regulatory and operational friction for foreign investors.
Investment attractiveness
Simpler procedures alone may not increase equity inflows if investors find better net or risk-adjusted returns elsewhere.
Meaning of September selling
Regulatory access
The article cites global asset allocation and risk management as possible explanations, rather than a wholesale loss of confidence in India's domestic growth story.
Investment attractiveness
The scale of withdrawals and market weakness show that external pressures and relative returns can weigh heavily on Indian equities.
- September FPI equity outflows
- ₹35,860 crore
- July FPI equity inflows
- ₹20,200 crore
- August FPI equity inflows
- ₹29,630 crore
- September index declines
- The Nifty 50 and Sensex fell almost 6% each.
- SEBI measures
- Faster digital registration, streamlined KYC, reduced documentation and operational costs, and measures for trusted investors.
- Market factors cited
- Higher US yields, elevated crude prices, rupee weakness, and global risk affected the relative appeal of Indian equities.