Factors to keep in Mind when NRI plan to shift back to India lifestyle

Those NRIs willing to return to India for good have to fine tune their lifestyle and temperament to suit the current environment in their motherland. Some of the major irritants (or even challenges) at the time of shifting their base are selecting a good house, providing quality education to children, living near a good hospital (within reach) and also deciding on whether to do business or get employed in a reputed company for earning.

Moreover, the infrastructure growth and social lifestyle at their chosen site for living must be in consonance with their mindset.

Spotting the right city

A lot of factors like climate, family issues, business prospects, schooling and the right ambience for them to settle down for a peaceful life have to be taken into consideration before deciding their place to live in India. However, given the rapid economic growth of Indian cities and state governments trying to woo foreign capital and skilled workforce, Indians abroad can work out and select their ideal city before moving in.
However, they should be mentally prepared for initial shocks and turbulence like hot climate, absence of hygiene on roads, public space and irregular transport and wait patiently for 6-10 months before the dust settles down.

Housing

After selecting the right city, the returning NRIs have to focus on housing, that is, whether to rent a house or flat for the time being or purchase a property that suits their affluent living abroad. But if you are returning to India on a project assignment or with guaranteed employment, then most probably the hiring company would be taking care of your accommodation needs too.
With the real estate sector on the upswing in major cities, a slew of housing projects catering to the needs of every section of Indians including the returning NRIs are underway, even as builders vie with each other to offer a number of add-on features and comfort zones in their projects to woo buyers. So, you have a bewildering array of choices in selecting the right type of accommodation to live from the very day you land in India.

Moreover, integrated townships near MNC clusters, gated communities and bungalows, et al, are being designed and built that are comparable to European and US standards. Of late, the property developers have taken to cyber space to publicise their upcoming residential projects and hence, NRIs can zero in on their choice at the click of a mouse sitting at their posh office or house in foreign countries.
A team of experts and organisations are there to guide NRIs in purchasing immovable property which is governed b y certain rules and regulations framed by the Reserve Bank of India. To play safe, living in a rented house is a safe bet and then purchasing the house after a gap by which time they would have familiarised with the market scenario in the country.

Schooling

Many NRIs and people of Indian origin (PIOs) return to India with the sole aim of giving sound education to their children as schools here are known for inculcating value-based knowledge with tested coaching in academic subjects, thereby moulding a rounded personality in boys and girls.

Indian schools have build up a reputation for excellence and they are highly respected world over. The school system is spread over 12 years of one’s life following a “10+2” pattern. It begins with preschool (pre-nursery), followed by nursery, primary, secondary (classes 9, 10) and higher secondary (classes 11, Plus Two).

Then comes the graduation and post-graduation in colleges. However, students can take up a different stream after secondary school by opting for technical education spread over three years.
 While private schools are mostly started by individuals or trusts, the public schools are run entirely by the government.  The government schools include the central schools, the state government schools and municipality schools.

 Most private schools are affiliated to the CBSE or the Indian School Certificate Examinations (ISCE). While the ISCE and CBSE programmes are known for their quality syllabus and modern curriculum, the recent years have seen a huge surge in schools offering the International Baccalaureate (IB) programme which offers flexibility and caters to the needs of the mobile population.

Any major city offers an eclectic mix of schools, all of which enjoy good patronage from the local population. Hence, it won’t be a difficult one for NRIs to find the right school for their wards without major hiccups.

NRIs have to take note of the academic year in schools before deciding on the time to relocate to India. Generally, the academic year is from June to March, but parents can enquire with the school management so that their children don’t suffer a needles break in the educational career.