Students from the MBA in Maritime Regulations and Compliance Management (MRCM) programme at Gujarat Maritime University undertook an academic visit to the headquarters of the International Financial Services Centres Authority (IFSCA) at GIFT City on 6 February 2026.
The visit provided students with practical exposure to India’s growing maritime finance ecosystem and the regulatory framework governing the country’s first International Financial Services Centre (IFSC). During the session, Ashutosh Sharma explained IFSCA’s role as a unified regulator integrating the functions of the Reserve Bank of India, Securities and Exchange Board of India, Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India and Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority within the IFSC ecosystem.
Students also gained insights into the Ship Leasing Framework, regulatory procedures for ship lessors and the incentives aimed at positioning GIFT City as a competitive hub for maritime financing.
The group was accompanied by Prof. (Dr.) Tanuja Kaushik, Dean Academic Affairs; Dr. Dharmesh Raval, Director, School of Maritime Management; Mr. Nishant Manjanwal, Teaching & Research Associate; and Ms. Nandini Parashar, Teaching & Research Associate. The visit concluded with an interactive discussion on maritime digitalisation and green finance, giving students a deeper understanding of regulatory practices and career opportunities in maritime compliance and finance.