Private equity firms have invested $3.3bn (€2.1bn) in India in the first quarter this year, which is a 22% increase from the same period last year, as institutional investors regard the country as one of the most attractive emerging markets.

Between January and March this year, buyout groups invested $3.3bn in 97 deals in India, according to figures from Chennai-based research group Venture Intelligence. The figure is a decrease from the fourth quarter of last year with 131 deals totalling $5bn.