How to invest in India using ETFs
How do I invest in Indian stocks?
The easiest way to invest in the whole Indian stock market is to invest in a broad market index. This can be done at low cost by using ETFs.
On the Indian stock market you'll find 3 indices which are tracked by ETFs. Besides these indices, 2 alternative indices are available.
As further alternative, you may invest in indices on Asia or emerging markets.
Performance of Indian stocks (MSCI India)
1 month: -2.12%
1 year: 12.86%
3 years: 30.50%
5 years: 74.09%
Indices in comparison
The best indices for ETFs on India
For an investment in the Indian stock market, there are 3 indices available which are tracked by 6 ETFs. On the FTSE India 30/18 Capped index there is 1 ETF. On the MSCI India index there are 4 ETFs. On the Nifty 50 index there is 1 ETF. The total expense ratio (TER) of ETFs on these indices is between 0.19% p.a. and 0.85% p.a..
| Index | Investment focus | Number of ETFs | Number of constituents | Short description |
|---|---|---|---|---|
FTSE India 30/18 Capped | India | 1 ETF | 213 (29/02/2024) | The FTSE India 30/18 Capped index tracks Indian companies with large and medium market capitalisation. The largest company in the index is limited to a maximum of 30 percent of the index capitalization, all other index components to a maximum of 18 percent. Index factsheet |
MSCI India | India | 4 ETFs | 156 (29/11/2024) | The MSCI India index tracks the leading Indian stocks. Index factsheet |
Nifty 50 | India | 1 ETF | 50 | The Nifty 50 index tracks 50 stocks from 22 sectors of the Indian economy. Index factsheet |
| ETF ISIN | Fund size in m GBP | TER in % | Use of profits | Fund domicile | Replication method | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| iShares MSCI India UCITS ETF USD (Acc)IE00BZCQB185 | 4,308 | 0.65% p.a. | Accumulating | Ireland | Optimized sampling | |
| Franklin FTSE India UCITS ETFIE00BHZRQZ17 | 1,001 | 0.19% p.a. | Accumulating | Ireland | Full replication | |
| Amundi MSCI India II UCITS ETF USD AccFR0010375766 | 278 | 0.85% p.a. | Accumulating | France | Unfunded swap | |
| Xtrackers MSCI India Swap UCITS ETF 1CLU0514695187 | 239 | 0.19% p.a. | Accumulating | Luxembourg | Unfunded swap | |
| Xtrackers Nifty 50 Swap UCITS ETF 1CLU0292109690 | 199 | 0.85% p.a. | Accumulating | Luxembourg | Unfunded swap | |
| Amundi MSCI India UCITS ETF USDLU1681043169 | 36 | 0.80% p.a. | Accumulating | Luxembourg | Unfunded swap |
| Index | 1 month in % | 3 months in % | 6 months in % | 1 year in % | 3 years in % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nifty 50 | 0.69% | -1.68% | 5.88% | 17.51% | 31.49% | |
| FTSE India 30/18 Capped | 1.14% | -1.61% | 4.60% | 22.16% | 39.35% | |
| MSCI India | 1.05% | -2.90% | 4.76% | 22.58% | 35.98% |
| Index | 2024 in % | 2023 in % | 2022 in % | 2021 in % | 2020 in % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nifty 50 | 9.26% | 12.40% | 4.83% | 23.00% | 7.67% | |
| FTSE India 30/18 Capped | 13.84% | 15.76% | 3.22% | 26.44% | 8.87% | |
| MSCI India | 14.39% | 13.09% | 2.58% | 26.58% | 11.14% |
Source: justETF.com; As of 30/11/2024; Calculations in GBP based on the largest ETF of the respective index.
The best India ETFs
by 1 year return
| 1 | iShares MSCI India UCITS ETF USD (Acc) | 22.58% |
| 2 | Amundi MSCI India UCITS ETF USD | 22.36% |
| 3 | Xtrackers MSCI India Swap UCITS ETF 1C | 22.30% |
The cheapest India ETFs
by total expense ratio (TER)
| 1 | Franklin FTSE India UCITS ETF | 0.19% p.a. |
| 2 | Xtrackers MSCI India Swap UCITS ETF 1C | 0.19% p.a. |
| 3 | iShares MSCI India UCITS ETF USD (Acc) | 0.65% p.a. |
Alternative investment opportunities
India indices with a sector or thematic focus
Alternatively, you can consider indices on specific sectors or investment themes. In total you can invest in 2 alternative indices on India tracked by 2 ETFs. The total expense ratio (TER) of ETFs on these alternative indices is between 0.65% p.a. and 0.86% p.a..
| Index | Investment focus | Number of ETFs | Number of constituents | Short description |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| INQQ The India Internet ESG Screened | India Social/Environmental | 1 ETF | The INQQ The India Internet ESG Screened index tracks Indian companies from the sectors internet and E-commerce. The stocks included are filtered according to ESG criteria (environmental, social and corporate governance). Index factsheet | |
| S&P India Tech | India Technology | 1 ETF | The S&P India Tech index tracks the Indian technology sector. |
| ETF ISIN | Fund size in m GBP | TER in % | Use of profits | Fund domicile | Replication method | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| HANetf INQQ India Internet UCITS ETF AccIE000WYTQSF9 | 2 | 0.86% p.a. | Accumulating | Ireland | Full replication | |
| HSBC S&P India Tech UCITS ETF EUR (Acc)IE0008119MO8 | - | 0.65% p.a. | Accumulating | Ireland | Full replication |
| Index | 1 month in % | 3 months in % | 6 months in % | 1 year in % | 3 years in % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| INQQ The India Internet ESG Screened | 6.25% | 5.69% | 16.64% | 25.83% | - | |
| S&P India Tech | 4.72% | 2.31% | 19.61% | - | - |
| Index | 2024 in % | 2023 in % | 2022 in % | 2021 in % | 2020 in % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| INQQ The India Internet ESG Screened | 19.43% | - | - | - | - | |
| S&P India Tech | - | - | - | - | - |
Source: justETF.com; As of 30/11/2024; Calculations in GBP based on the largest ETF of the respective index.
Emerging markets indices with a share of India
Besides India ETFs you may consider ETFs on emerging markets. In total, you can consider 2 emerging markets indices tracked by 21 ETFs. The total expense ratio (TER) of ETFs on emerging markets indices is between 0.11% p.a. and 0.55% p.a..
| Index | Investment focus | Number of ETFs | Number of constituents | Short description |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FTSE Emerging | Emerging Markets India: 17.98% (30/11/2022) | 3 ETFs | 2,219 (28/06/2024) | The FTSE Emerging index tracks stocks from emerging markets worldwide. Index factsheet |
| MSCI Emerging Markets | Emerging Markets India: 14.85% (30/11/2022) | 18 ETFs | 1,253 (29/11/2024) | The MSCI Emerging Markets index tracks stocks from emerging markets worldwide. Index factsheet |
| ETF ISIN | Fund size in m GBP | TER in % | Use of profits | Fund domicile | Replication method | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Xtrackers MSCI Emerging Markets UCITS ETF 1CIE00BTJRMP35 | 4,549 | 0.18% p.a. | Accumulating | Ireland | Optimized sampling | |
| iShares MSCI EM UCITS ETF (Dist)IE00B0M63177 | 3,724 | 0.18% p.a. | Distributing | Ireland | Full replication | |
| iShares MSCI EM UCITS ETF (Acc)IE00B4L5YC18 | 2,749 | 0.18% p.a. | Accumulating | Ireland | Full replication | |
| Amundi Index MSCI Emerging Markets UCITS ETF DR (C)LU1437017350 | 2,540 | 0.18% p.a. | Accumulating | Luxembourg | Full replication | |
| HSBC MSCI Emerging Markets UCITS ETF USDIE00B5SSQT16 | 2,119 | 0.15% p.a. | Distributing | Ireland | Full replication | |
| Vanguard FTSE Emerging Markets UCITS ETF DistributingIE00B3VVMM84 | 1,913 | 0.22% p.a. | Distributing | Ireland | Full replication | |
| Amundi MSCI Emerging Markets II UCITS ETF DistLU2573966905 | 1,822 | 0.14% p.a. | Distributing | Luxembourg | Unfunded swap | |
| Amundi MSCI Emerging Markets II UCITS ETF AccLU2573967036 | 1,385 | 0.14% p.a. | Accumulating | Luxembourg | Unfunded swap | |
| UBS ETF (LU) MSCI Emerging Markets UCITS ETF (USD) A-disLU0480132876 | 1,144 | 0.18% p.a. | Distributing | Luxembourg | Optimized sampling | |
| Amundi MSCI Emerging Markets UCITS ETF USDLU1681045453 | 720 | 0.20% p.a. | Accumulating | Luxembourg | Unfunded swap | |
| SPDR MSCI Emerging Markets UCITS ETFIE00B469F816 | 538 | 0.18% p.a. | Accumulating | Ireland | Full replication | |
| Vanguard FTSE Emerging Markets UCITS ETF AccIE00BK5BR733 | 522 | 0.22% p.a. | Accumulating | Ireland | Full replication | |
| Xtrackers MSCI Emerging Markets Swap UCITS ETF 1CLU0292107645 | 481 | 0.49% p.a. | Accumulating | Luxembourg | Unfunded swap | |
| Amundi Index MSCI Emerging Markets UCITS ETF DR (D)LU1737652583 | 436 | 0.18% p.a. | Distributing | Luxembourg | Full replication | |
| Invesco MSCI Emerging Markets UCITS ETFIE00B3DWVS88 | 320 | 0.19% p.a. | Accumulating | Ireland | Unfunded swap | |
| HSBC MSCI Emerging Markets UCITS ETF USD (Acc)IE000KCS7J59 | 266 | 0.15% p.a. | Accumulating | Ireland | Full replication | |
| Xtrackers MSCI Emerging Markets UCITS ETF 1DIE000GWA2J58 | 169 | 0.18% p.a. | Distributing | Ireland | Full replication | |
| Amundi Index MSCI Emerging Markets UCITS ETF DR - USD (D)LU2277591868 | 129 | 0.18% p.a. | Distributing | Luxembourg | Full replication | |
| Amundi MSCI Emerging Markets III UCITS ETF USD AccFR0010435297 | 88 | 0.55% p.a. | Accumulating | France | Unfunded swap | |
| Xtrackers MSCI Emerging Markets Swap UCITS ETF 1DLU2675291913 | 70 | 0.18% p.a. | Distributing | Luxembourg | Unfunded swap | |
| Franklin FTSE Emerging Markets UCITS ETF USD CapitalisationIE0004I037N4 | 8 | 0.11% p.a. | Accumulating | Ireland | Full replication |
| Index | 1 month in % | 3 months in % | 6 months in % | 1 year in % | 3 years in % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MSCI Emerging Markets | -2.15% | 2.08% | 3.33% | 11.54% | 0.77% | |
| FTSE Emerging | -1.28% | 5.13% | 5.65% | 14.75% | 5.93% |
| Index | 2024 in % | 2023 in % | 2022 in % | 2021 in % | 2020 in % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MSCI Emerging Markets | 7.90% | 3.61% | -10.57% | -1.50% | 14.15% | |
| FTSE Emerging | 11.65% | 2.02% | -7.55% | 0.58% | 10.95% |
Source: justETF.com; As of 30/11/2024; Calculations in GBP based on the largest ETF of the respective index.
Asia indices with a share of India
Alternatively, you may consider investing in Asia. In total, you can invest in 3 indices on Asia tracked by 6 ETFs. The total expense ratio (TER) of ETFs on Asia is between 0.20% p.a. and 0.60% p.a..
| Index | Investment focus | Number of ETFs | Number of constituents | Short description |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MSCI AC Asia Pacific ex Japan | Asia Pacific India: 13.98% (30/11/2022) | 1 ETF | 1,113 (29/11/2024) | The MSCI AC Asia Pacific ex Japan index tracks equity markets of the emerging and developed countries of the Asia and Pacific region, excluding Japan. Index factsheet |
| MSCI AC Asia ex Japan | Asia Pacific India: 16.92% (30/11/2022) | 2 ETFs | 1,054 (29/11/2024) | The MSCI AC Asia ex Japan index tracks equity markets of the emerging and developed countries of the Asia region, excluding Japan. Index factsheet |
| MSCI Emerging Markets Asia | Asia Pacific India: 19.02% (30/11/2022) | 3 ETFs | 1,010 (29/11/2024) | The MSCI Emerging Markets Asia index tracks large and mid cap companies from Asian emerging markets. Index factsheet |
| ETF ISIN | Fund size in m GBP | TER in % | Use of profits | Fund domicile | Replication method | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| iShares MSCI EM Asia UCITS ETF (Acc)IE00B5L8K969 | 2,467 | 0.20% p.a. | Accumulating | Ireland | Full replication | |
| SPDR MSCI EM Asia UCITS ETFIE00B466KX20 | 701 | 0.55% p.a. | Accumulating | Ireland | Full replication | |
| Amundi MSCI Emerging Markets Asia UCITS ETF USDLU1681044563 | 486 | 0.20% p.a. | Accumulating | Luxembourg | Unfunded swap | |
| Amundi MSCI AC Asia Pacific Ex Japan UCITS ETF AccLU1900068328 | 326 | 0.60% p.a. | Accumulating | Luxembourg | Unfunded swap | |
| UBS ETF (IE) MSCI AC Asia Ex Japan SF UCITS ETF (USD) A-accIE00B7WK2W23 | 213 | 0.23% p.a. | Accumulating | Ireland | Swap-based | |
| Amundi MSCI AC Asia Ex Japan UCITS ETF AccLU1900068161 | 194 | 0.50% p.a. | Accumulating | Luxembourg | Unfunded swap |
| Index | 1 month in % | 3 months in % | 6 months in % | 1 year in % | 3 years in % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MSCI Emerging Markets Asia | -2.21% | 3.14% | 4.85% | 15.00% | 1.23% | |
| MSCI AC Asia ex Japan | -1.76% | 3.86% | 5.42% | 15.27% | 0.89% | |
| MSCI AC Asia Pacific ex Japan | 0.12% | 4.24% | 6.78% | 15.96% | 3.22% |
| Index | 2024 in % | 2023 in % | 2022 in % | 2021 in % | 2020 in % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MSCI AC Asia Pacific ex Japan | 11.54% | 0.89% | -7.77% | -3.00% | 17.82% | |
| MSCI AC Asia ex Japan | 11.89% | 0.06% | -10.16% | -3.78% | 20.35% | |
| MSCI Emerging Markets Asia | 11.90% | 1.75% | -10.37% | -5.16% | 23.42% |
Source: justETF.com; As of 30/11/2024; Calculations in GBP based on the largest ETF of the respective index.