Welcome to Prop School, your ultimate educational hub for mastering the fundamentals of proprietary trading. Whether you’re just starting out or looking to refine your skills, this section is designed to give you a clear and practical understanding of how prop firms operate, what it takes to become a successful trader, and how to navigate the challenges and opportunities of the trading world.
Explore our curated resources—including in-depth PDFs—to build the knowledge and confidence you need to thrive in the prop trading industry.
Dive into the world of proprietary trading with Prop School—a dedicated learning space created to equip aspiring traders with the tools, knowledge, and insights needed to succeed. Whether you’re exploring prop firms for the first time or aiming to sharpen your trading strategies, our expertly curated educational resources will guide you every step of the way.
There isn’t a one-size-fits-all “best” prop firm for every trader in India, as it depends on your trading style and what you value most. However, FTMO is often considered the top choice globally and is very popular among Indian prop traders for its reliability and support – it’s our Editor’s Choice due to consistent payouts and a proven track record. FundedNext is another excellent choice, especially for those who want a generous refund (120% of fees back) and no time limits on challenges, which can be advantageous for many Indian traders who prefer a flexible pace. Other firms like The Funded Trader, Funded Trading Plus, and Maven Trading are also highly rated and have significant user bases in India. In summary, the best prop firm for you will depend on factors like: whether you want an instant funded account or don’t mind doing challenges, how much starting capital you seek, and what kind of rules you can work with. It’s always a good idea to start with our top 10 list, identify which firm’s conditions align with your needs, and maybe even try a small challenge to get a feel for it. All the firms listed here accept Indian traders and have funded successful Indian users, so you have a wealth of good options.
Yes, prop trading firms are legal for Indian residents to participate in. Prop firms operate by providing you a simulated trading account to trade on international markets (forex, commodities, indices, etc.), and they reward you with a share of the profits. Since you are trading a simulation (even though it mirrors real market prices) and getting paid a performance fee, you are not directly trading on a regulated exchange with your own money – thus Indian regulations (like RBI or SEBI rules on sending money abroad for trading) aren’t directly applicable in the same way as, say, trading foreign futures or forex on your own. Essentially, you’re purchasing a service (the evaluation or the right to trade their funds) from these companies, which is permissible. Many Indian traders legally engage with prop firms; the income you earn from prop trading is legal and is treated as self-employment or business income, which you should declare and pay taxes on as per Indian tax laws.
It’s important to use legitimate prop firms (like the ones in our list) that have clear contracts and payment procedures. You will typically receive payouts via international wire, PayPal, or crypto. If via bank transfer or PayPal, the funds come as foreign remittances, which is legal – you might be asked by your bank for the purpose of the remittance; you can clarify it as trading incentive or business earnings. In short, there’s no law forbidding Indians from taking up a prop trading account. Just ensure you pay any applicable GST on the challenge fees (some firms include this, some don’t) and pay income tax on your prop trading profits in India. When in doubt, consult a tax professional to correctly classify your earnings from prop firms.
To choose the right prop firm, you should consider several key factors in light of your own circumstances:
Are you confident enough to take a one-step challenge or prefer a two-step? Or would you rather pay more for instant funding? For example, if you want no time pressure, firms like FundedNext, Maven, or The Funded Trader (Royal) offer no time limit challenges. If you want the cheapest challenge, a 3-step like Maven or a standard two-step like FTMO might be good.
How much funding do you need and how much fee can you afford? Some firms offer $50k accounts for a few hundred dollars fee. If your strategy needs a large account (say $200k), look for firms offering that (FTMO, TFT, FundedNext, etc.). Also, take advantage of discounts – e.g., FundedNext’s refund essentially lowers your cost, or codes like INVEST (30% off) for TFT reduce the fee.
Most firms offer 80% to 90% profit splits. A higher profit split means you keep more – e.g., Blue Guardian (85% starting) or FundedNext (can reach 90%). Refund policies also matter: FTMO and others refund your fee on first payout (standard), but FundedNext’s 120% refund or TFT’s periodic extra refunds give you more.
If you trade news frequently or hold trades, ensure the firm allows it. Almost all in our list allow news and overnight holding once funded. During challenges, a few might restrict news (TFT’s standard challenge asks you not to trade major news, for example). If you use MetaTrader 5, ensure the firm supports it (most do). If you need a specific instrument (like an exotic currency or NSE stock CFD), check their instrument list.
Consider how you will get paid in India. Firms paying via Deel or Wise are very convenient since those can deposit directly to an Indian bank in INR. Many firms do use Deel (FTMO, FundedNext, etc.). If a firm only offers crypto and you’re not comfortable handling crypto, that could be an issue – though most offer at least one fiat method.
As an Indian trader, time zone alignment for support might be crucial. Check if the firm’s support is active during IST daytime (funds in Europe/Middle East like FTMO, FundedNext, Blue Guardian will have overlap with IST). A strong community (like TFT or Funding Pips) can also be a plus if you enjoy collaboration. Ultimately, research and trial is part of the process. It might be wise to try a smaller challenge with one firm to see if you like their conditions (for instance, try a $10k or $25k challenge first). Our top 10 list is a great starting point since all these firms are reputable; from here, align their offerings with your personal trading habits and objectives to make your choice.
Prop firm payouts to Indian traders typically work through international payment channels:
Many prop firms partner with Deel, a global payroll service. If your firm uses Deel, you’ll receive an email to create a Deel account. Through Deel, you can withdraw funds directly to your Indian bank account (they handle the foreign exchange, and you get INR in your account) or to other methods like PayPal or Payoneer. Deel is RBI-compliant and will often ask for PAN details for larger amounts, ensuring everything is above board.
Some firms can send money via a direct bank wire. You’d provide your bank’s SWIFT code and account details. The foreign currency (USD, EUR, etc.) would come into your account; your bank converts it to INR at the prevailing rate (some banks let you hold in a foreign currency or open an EEFC account if you’re a freelancer, but that’s optional). Wires can incur a fixed fee (typically $15-$30 deducted by intermediary banks) and conversion charges. It’s a reliable method, albeit slightly slower (2-5 days).
A few firms offer PayPal payouts. PayPal will convert the foreign currency to INR and deposit to your linked Indian bank account within a day or two. Note PayPal in India automatically does currency conversion and deducts a small fee. It’s convenient for smaller amounts.
Almost all prop firms now offer crypto payouts (usually in USDT, BTC, or ETH). If you’re savvy with crypto, this can be very fast – you could receive USDT (a USD-pegged stablecoin) to your Binance/crypto wallet, then you can sell it for INR on a crypto exchange and withdraw to your bank. Many Indian prop traders use this method to avoid bank wire fees and get money within minutes of processing. Be mindful of crypto regulations; while buying/selling crypto is not banned in India, it’s subject to taxes (and there’s a 1% TDS on crypto-to-INR conversions beyond certain amounts).
Some firms might send via Wise. Wise is excellent – they deposit locally from an Indian partner bank, so you get INR with minimal fees and very quickly. You just need to provide your bank details and IFSC code.
In all cases, you, as the recipient, should maintain records of these earnings. Prop firm payouts are considered income. While prop firms won’t deduct any tax at source (except the 1% TDS if you went the crypto route, which the exchange handles), it’s your responsibility to declare this foreign income in your Income Tax returns in India. Typically, it’ll be treated as business income or other income, and you can likely deduct the challenge fees as an expense. But consult a CA for clarity.
Payouts from prop firms to India are commonplace and generally hassle-free. Thousands of Indian traders are getting paid every month through these methods. Just choose the one you’re most comfortable with, and ensure the prop firm has that option. If fast access to funds is crucial, lean towards firms using Deel/Crypto for near-instant payouts.
