Building on the recent initiatives to enhance ease of doing business in capital markets, the government has undertaken further reforms to make foreign investment in equities and G-Secs more accessible, efficient, and globally competitive, an official release said.

 

The union budget FY2026-27 had announced that individual PROI will be permitted to invest in equity instruments of listed Indian companies through the Portfolio Investment Scheme which was hitherto available only to NRIs/OCIs; and the investment limit will be increased for an individual PROI under this scheme from 5% to 10% in any company, with an overall investment limit for all individual PROIs to 24%, from the current 10%.

 

To implement the same, Department of Economic Affairs (DEA) is notifying the Foreign Exchange Management (Non-Debt Instruments) (Third Amendment) Rules, 2026.

 

This notification will facilitate a more proactive mobilisation of foreign portfolio capital by leveraging the existing onboarding systems already in place for NRI/OCI investors. Simplified onboarding and reduced compliance requirements would further enhance ease of doing business, while attracting a broader base of relatively stable individual foreign investors. This will also support greater and more stable foreign inflows into Indian equity markets.

 

With the view to enhance participation by FPIs in G-Sec, the Government has decided to expand the list of specified securities under the Fully Accessible Route (FAR) to also include new issuances in Government securities in tenors of 15, 30 and 40 years as also Sovereign Green Bonds (SGrBs) in the tenors of FAR-eligible securities. Further, with respect to FPI investments under General Route, it has been decided to remove the three restrictions, viz. short-term investment limit, concentration limit and the security-wise limit for investments by Foreign Portfolio Investors (FPIs) in Government securities, while retaining the overall quantitative investment limit of 6 per cent of the outstanding stock of the Central Government securities and 2 per cent of the State Government securities (SGSs). The sub-categories of investment limits, viz., 'general' and 'long-term' will also be merged into a single limit for investment in Government securities and SGSs, respectively.

 

These measures will help in development of a smooth yield curve, and attract stable systematic inflow of long-term, patient foreign capital, including long-term investors such as pension funds, insurance companies, and sovereign wealth funds. This is also expected to boost foreign exchange inflows for the country.

 

Recognising the importance of a competitive tax regime in attracting global capital, the Government has decided to rationalise the tax treatment applicable to investments by FPIs in Government Securities, by exempting such investments from income tax on any interest or capital gain.  This step will align the taxation on G-Secs with many comparable jurisdictions.

 

The exemption shall be applicable w.e.f. 01.04.2026, i.e. the exemption shall apply to any interest or capital gains arising to FPIs on or after 01.04.2026 in respect of investments in G-Secs.

 

Similar income-tax exemption is also provided for Bank for International Settlements (BIS) for any interest or capital gains from its investments in G-Secs.

 

This will ensure stable systematic inflow of durable, patient foreign capital and long-term investors such as pension funds, insurance companies, and Sovereign wealth funds (SWFs).

 

Taken together, these reforms aim to reduce operational complexities, simplify market access, and provide a more seamless investment experience comparable with leading international financial markets. These measures are expected to expand the investor base for Indian equities and Government Securities and encourage wider participation from global investors seeking exposure to one of the world's fastest-growing major economies.

 

RBI measures
Meanwhile, RBI governor Sanjay Malhotra announced the following in Mumbai:

 

First, for government securities under the Fully Accessible Route (FAR), we are expanding the universe of ‘specified securities’ by including all new issuances of 15-, 30- and 40-year tenor G-secs. In addition, limits pertaining to short-term investment, concentration and individual securities on FPI investment under the General Route are being removed. These measures along with the tax benefits provided by the government this morning should help attract foreign capital for government borrowing.

 

Second, the limits for investment by NRIs and OCIs in equity instruments traded on the stock market without SEBI registration are being increased. Further, the same facility is being extended to all individual Persons Resident Outside India (PROIs) at par with NRIs and OCIs.

 

Third, a facility of concessional forex swap will be provided till 30th September 2026 to incentivize ECBs by PSUs.

 

Fourth, a similar facility for bearing the full hedging cost shall be provided till 30th September 2026 to AD banks for raising fresh 3–5-year FCNR (B) deposits.

 

Fifth, it is proposed to restore the time for realisation of export proceeds to nine months.

 

Moreover, the RBI’s Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) met on the 3rd, 4th and 5th of June to deliberate and decide on the policy repo rate. After a detailed assessment of the evolving macroeconomic and financial developments and the outlook, the MPC voted unanimously to keep the policy repo rate under the liquidity adjustment facility (LAF) unchanged at 5.25 per cent; consequently, the standing deposit facility (SDF) rate remains at 5.00 per cent and the marginal standing facility (MSF) rate and the Bank Rate at 5.50 per cent. The MPC also decided to continue with the neutral stance.