When India gained independence and was established as a republic, the Rupee (currency code: INR, symbol: ₹, and equivalent to: £0.011, $0.013 or €0.012) was adopted as the sole currency. The banking sector is regulated by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI). In 2016, to counter corruption and illegal cash holdings, 1,000 INR notes were … Read more

India is an ancient and very diverse country, both culturally and linguistically, and you will find that many languages are spoken here. If you are intending to live and work in India, you may be asking yourself how easily you will be able to communicate, particularly if you are a native English speaker. We will … Read more

India is an increasingly popular expat destination, with a growing economy and some excellent opportunities both in terms of culture and business. There are, however, some barriers to starting a new life in India, including the difficulty in finding suitable accommodation. Properties that are both reasonably priced and good quality are difficult to come by … Read more

The quality of healthcare available in India varies considerably, depending on whether you are using the public or the private sector, and whether you are based in a rural or an urban area. In practice, it is unlikely that you will encounter the public system outside of an emergency, as most expats take out private … Read more

A chronic condition is defined as a health condition or disease that is persistent or otherwise long-lasting in its effects, or a disease that comes with time. If you suffer from a chronic condition while you are living and working in India, then you will need to carefully consider your healthcare options. This article looks … Read more

India is a major tourist destination, and the diversity of the country’s landscape means that it can cater to a number of sporting activities. For example, there are various water sports on offer in coastal areas, such as Goa, including sailing, boating, river water rafting, kayaking, jet skiing, windsurfing and parasailing. Alternatively, you could visit … Read more

In India, your maternity options will depend on whether you are accessing maternity care in the public or the private sector. Most expats resident in the country will have private health insurance, and will not be dependent on the public healthcare system. It is not recommended that you give birth in a public hospital in … Read more

The Indian government has prioritised healthcare over recent decades, establishing a universal healthcare system and state medical insurance, and the system is continuing to develop under a new scheme, colloquially known as Modicare. However, the system is still overstretched and suffers from a number of limitations, including overcrowding and poor patient outcomes. As a result, … Read more

India is a fascinating place, but living and working there can be challenging. Western expats report high levels of culture shock, due in part to witnessing the extent of poverty in the country. As well as this, the labyrinthine Indian bureaucracy and the overcrowding in the cities can make India feel a little overwhelming. It … Read more

The quality of cancer care you are offered in India will depend on whether you are seeking treatment in the public or the private sector. Overall, cancer care in the USA is of a higher quality than oncological care in India, although expats should note that cancer treatment in some private clinics in India is … Read more

India is fast becoming a major centre for medical tourism, due to the excellent standard of some clinics, for treatments such as dental implants, LASIK eye surgery and cosmetic surgery. Costs tend to be highly competitive in comparison to those in Western nations. Traditional forms of medicine are on offer, as well as allopathic treatments. … Read more

If you are a resident in India, then even if you are covered by one of the country’s national insurance schemes, you will find that your options for both dental and ophthalmic treatment are very limited. Most expats in the country either rely on private health insurance, or pay out of pocket. However, India is … Read more

If you are going to India, whether to live or for a visit, you may wish to take advantage of the country’s ancient and established range of complementary therapies. India is home to many forms of alternative medicine and health practice, including: • Ayurveda• Yoga• Unani• Siddha• Homeopathy• HerbalismAyurveda is an ancient Hindu system of … Read more

If you are planning to visit India, whether as a tourist or as a potential expat, you will need to apply for a visa. Read on to learn more about the application process. Although the bureaucracy can be complex, it is not impossible to navigate.Will I need a visa? Citizens of most countries require a … Read more

India is a fascinating but challenging country in which to find work and your success in doing so as an expat will very much depend on the sector in which you specialize. People working in engineering, education, medicine, technical industries, accounting and legal work are likely to have the highest chance of success and to … Read more

Everyone who enters India must arrive using the correct visa for the purpose of their visit and their intended length of stay. Migrants are allowed to work in India, but only if they have an employment visa (known as the E visa).In order to obtain an employment visa, you need to make a formal application, … Read more

The street food of India is internationally famous. You can get a little taste of its flavours in marketplaces from the UK to South Africa. Increasingly, you don’t even have to find a street vendor to try it, with indoor street food restaurants popping up everywhere.But for the true gourmet hunting authentic culinary experiences, the … Read more

At Expat Focus, we like to be on the lookout for resources around the web that could help prospective expats adjust to their new countries. Today, we’re taking a look at India and some of the social media accounts you should be following if you’re thinking of moving there.The White Punjabi BrideFacebook Page | Twitter … Read more

When the Indian government decided to ban 500 (£6/$7) and 1,000 (£12/$15) rupee notes as part of their anti-corruption drive, the move not only shocked India, but also expats living there as well. In their place are new 500 and 2,000 rupee notes, which have new security features and the government says a new 1,000 … Read more

At Expat Focus, we like to be on the lookout for resources around the web that could help prospective expats adjust to their new countries. Today, we’re taking a look at India and some of the blogs that might be useful for expats there.Hippie In Heels www.hippie-inheels.com From small town Ohio to Goa, India, Rachel … Read more

India is a country in a state of flux, arguably more today than it has ever been before. For expats and for many experienced observers, it’s one of the most interesting places in the world to live, thanks to a unique combination of factors. The country is the most populous democracy in the world, and … Read more

While Indian food has been around in England since the early 1800s, it was only after control over the subcontinent passed from the East India Company to the Crown, and more and more Britons came to make their fortunes in India, that Indian cuisine came to be at the forefront of the British culinary experience. … Read more

Living in India can be confusing for expats, and can take some getting used to. Some expats arrive in India with visions of living in an exotic Asian country, only to find themselves in urban, developed surroundings, although certain infrastructural problems do exist. At the same time, there’s the incongruence of living in a country … Read more

At Expat Focus, we like to be on the lookout for resources around the web that could help prospective expats adjust to their new countries. Today, we’re taking a look at India and some of the bloggers who write about living there. Every Day Adventures In Asiahttp://everydayasia.com/ The blog of a Canadian who currently lives … Read more

Bangalore (now officially changed to Bengaluru, but still popularly known by its old name) is one of India’s main metropolitan cities, among its most modern, developed, and urban areas. Like most of India, Bangalore is a place of great contradictions – dazzling affluence and stark poverty, modern conveniences next to infrastructure that is often outdated … Read more

Experiencing a culture shock is an inevitable part of moving to India, especially if you are traveling to the country for the first time. Bangalore, the “Silicon Valley of India” is a dynamic city with deep religious roots. In spite of being young, tech-driven, and urban the culture in Bangalore is rather different from that … Read more

Bangalore is often referred to as the Silicon Valley of India and it enjoys the status of being the Indian city with the best expat lifestyle. Big names in the IT industry such as Google and Dell among many others all have their offices here and the city is home to a rising expat population. … Read more