TIER 1 · SEC/CFTC · FCA · DFSA +7Verdict 6.2 / 10 · #59
Is Interactive Brokers legal in India?
Short answerInteractive Brokers isn't on the RBI Alert List, but that doesn't make it authorised. Indian residents may legally trade forex only in permitted INR pairs on recognised Indian exchanges through SEBI-registered brokers. Licences: SEC/CFTC · FCA · DFSA · CBI · ASIC · MAS +4 (best: Tier 1). None of these is an Indian licence.
The facts
RBI Alert List
Not listed
List date
19 Nov 2025 (RBI press release 2025-2026/1530)
Licences held
SEC/CFTC · FCA · DFSA · CBI · ASIC · MAS · SEBI · Kanto LFB +2
Accepts Indian residents (own terms)
Not excluded
UPI
Not confirmed
Data as of 2026-10-24, from Interactive Brokers's own site and the sources on its full review. RBI list: RBI press release 2025-2026/1530, 19 Nov 2025.
Questions
Is Interactive Brokers banned in India?
Interactive Brokers isn't on the RBI Alert List as of 24 Oct 2026, but it isn't authorised by the RBI or SEBI either.
Is Interactive Brokers regulated?
Interactive Brokers lists licences from SEC/CFTC · FCA · DFSA · CBI · ASIC · MAS · SEBI · Kanto LFB +2. These are foreign regulators; none authorises forex trading for Indian residents.
What is the legal way to trade forex in India?
Currency futures and options on NSE and BSE in permitted INR pairs (USD/INR, EUR/INR, GBP/INR, JPY/INR) and cross-currency pairs, through a SEBI-registered broker.