Citi began operations in India over a century ago in 1902 in Kolkata and today is a significant foreign investor in the Indian financial market. As promoter-shareholder, Citi has played a leading role in establishing important market intermediaries such as depositories, credit bureau, clearing and payment institutions. Citi helped lay the foundation of the Indian software industry by establishing Citicorp Overseas Software Ltd. and Iflex Solutions Ltd.; it pioneered the ITES industry in financial services through Citigroup Global Services Ltd. (CGSL).

The ICG serves Citi's best-in-class products, services and execution through Global Banking, Global Markets, Treasury & Trade Solutions, Securities & Fund Services and Citi Research. Citi Private Bank is also a division of the ICG. In FY18, Citi has been ranked the #1 bank in announced M&A transactions in India, #1 in Equity Capital Markets, and #3 bookrunner for G3 bond issuances in India. In 2017, They helped raise US$8.5 billion of G3 bond capital and US$12.5 billion of equity capital for their clients, and advised on US$8.9 billion worth of announced M&A deals.

Since its inception in 1999, the Citi Foundation grant program has catalyzed opportunities for more than 2.5 million people across the country while working in the areas of Financial Capability & Asset Building, Youth Education & Livelihoods, Enterprise Development and Microfinance. In 2014, Citi Foundation launched the India Innovation Grant Program to encourage non-governmental organizations (NGOs) to develop innovative programs that are scalable and replicable. At the time, the Foundation's focus area was solely in the space of Financial Inclusion. In 2015, the program extended to also encompass Youth Skilling, based on the Indian Government's national priorities. In 2016, the program focuses on Youth Skilling and Livelihoods