Some of the mutual funds operating in India that invest abroad (we will call them international funds) prefer to invest in other funds that are already operational in those countries. This is a matter of convenience and legacy.
Most of these funds already have an international tie up (DSP, Franklin) and it doesn’t make sense to replicate the stock picking setup (fund mangers, office etc). So it is convenient.
There are some funds in India that do buy stocks. Parag Parikh Value Fund is one such example.
Bottomline: It does make sense to invest abroad through an Indian mutual fund. Most successful foreign companies anyway derive a huge chunk of their revenues from other countries. So you get to participate in the best performing international companies by gaining exposure to such funds.
Lastly, always invest in direct plans with trusted advisor. Do not fall for fully free platforms as you might end up being the product.
