Budget 2026 Proposes REITs for CPSEs to Boost Retail Investor Returns

Budget 2026 has proposed to accelerate the recycling of significant real estate assets of Central Public Sector Enterprises (CPSEs) through the setting up of dedicated Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs).

In other words, this means the creation of dedicated REITs for CPSEs, which marks a significant and forward-looking shift in the Government’s approach to public asset management.

The decision to include assets of CPSEs into the REIT structure is a significant shift and is likely to have a multi-layered impact on the asset class from deepening the market, as these entities have large assets, to increasing the participation of institutional investors, including mutual funds, says Anshuman Magazine, Chairman & CEO - India, South-East Asia, Middle East & Africa, CBRE. Since CPSEs are often mandated to provide steady returns, their REITs are expected to focus on high-yield, stable income distributions, he continues.

Shiv Parekh, Founder and CEO, hBits comments that the Union Budget 2026 sends a positive signal for India’s investment ecosystem. The 12.2 trillion rupee allocation for infrastructure and introducing dedicated REITs for monetising CPSE assets can help unlock private capital and improve market liquidity. This opens up more stable, yield-focused investment opportunities for both institutional and retail investors.

This move creates high-quality, income-generating investment avenues and adds a more transparent and liquid layer to India’s real estate ecosystem. Importantly, it complements traditional property ownership while strengthening investor confidence and attracting long-term capital, says Nishant Kohli, Founder & CEO, NRI Nivesh.

According to the Indian REITs Association, the proposal to monetise large, underutilised government-owned real estate through REIT structures is a strong signal of intent. It reflects a clear move from passive ownership to efficient, market-linked asset management, while unlocking long-term value from mature public assets and recycling capital into fresh infrastructure development. By positioning REITs as a key mechanism for asset monetisation, the Budget reinforces their growing role in India’s infrastructure financing ecosystem. Dedicated CPSE REITs can accelerate capital recycling, improve balance-sheet efficiency for public enterprises, and expand access to high-quality, income-generating assets for a wider investor base through transparent and regulated instruments.

The Budget’s continued emphasis on infrastructure investment — with capital expenditure raised by 9% to ₹12.2 lakh crore for FY27 — further strengthens the backdrop for REITs and InvITs. The sustained focus on urban centres, including cities with populations above five lakh, opens new opportunities for commercial, transport, and public infrastructure assets across both established and emerging markets.

Overall, the Union Budget 2026-27 underscores the Government’s commitment to leveraging REITs and InvITs as strategic tools for infrastructure funding, capital market deepening, and sustainable economic growth.