Budget 2026: NRIs, Global Investors Gain Direct Access to Indian Equities; GIFT City Clarity

• Budget 2026-27 introduces measures to attract foreign and NRI capital into Indian equities and strengthen GIFT City as a global financial hub.
• Individual Persons Resident Outside India (PROIs) can now directly invest in listed Indian companies via the Portfolio Investment Scheme (PIS), bypassing intermediaries.
• Direct investment limits for PROIs are doubled: per-investor cap to 10% and aggregate cap to 24% of a company's paid-up capital.
• GIFT City's IFSC units receive an extended Section 80LA profit-linked tax holiday for 20 years, enhancing its competitiveness for structured investments.
• A new Foreign Assets of Small Taxpayers – Disclosure Scheme (FAST-DS) 2026 offers a six-month amnesty for NRIs to disclose foreign assets/income below specified thresholds.

Why It Matters: Budget 2026 simplifies NRI and foreign investment in Indian equities while boosting GIFT City's appeal.