Tag: Nirmala Sitharaman

IndustryLatest Stories

Budget 2026: REITs, Land Relief, and City Growth Boost Real Estate

File photo NEW DELHI: Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman presented the Union Budget 2026–27 on February 1, unveiling a series of initiatives designed to enhance capital recycling, simplify tax compliance, and accelerate urban infrastructure development, benefiting the real estate and construction sectors substantially. A major highlight was the government’s plan to fast-track the monetization of central public sector enterprise (CPSE) real estate assets through specialized Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs). Sitharaman noted that REITs have proven to be an effective tool for asset monetization, which would aid in recycling mature public assets, while also generating consistent revenue and unlocking funds for…

IndustryLatest Stories

Budget 2026: Fast-Tracking CPSE Real Estate Recycling with REITs

NEW DELHI: Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced that the Union government will enhance efforts to monetize real estate assets owned by central public sector enterprises (CPSEs) through dedicated Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) during the presentation of the Union Budget 2026-27 on February 1, 2026. Sitharaman emphasized that market-linked instruments play a crucial role in unlocking value from public assets. She mentioned that REITs have proven to be effective for asset monetization and that the government intends to expedite the recycling of CPSE-owned real estate through these structures. The objective is to improve capital efficiency and generate ongoing revenue streams…

InfrastructureLatest Stories

₹1 Lakh-Crore Urban Fund Focuses on Redevelopment and Reform

NEW DELHI: The core of the new ₹1 lakh crore Urban Challenge Fund will focus on redeveloping abandoned public buildings, repurposing unused government land such as old prisons and granaries, and engaging the private sector, while promoting municipal reforms to transform cities in India. The Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs has developed guidelines for this Urban Challenge Fund, which was introduced by Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman during her budget speech. This fund is anticipated to be a significant central assistance initiative for urban transformation in around 300 cities, each with populations exceeding 100,000, competing for project funding. According…

IndustryLatest Stories

GST Council Approves Two-Tier Tax Structure Starting September 22

NEW DELHI: The GST Council has approved reductions in tax rates on commonly used items such as hair oil, corn flakes, televisions, and health and life insurance policies, marking a significant revamp of the Goods and Services Tax system. The new GST rates, effective from September 22, will reduce the current four tax slabs to just two: 5% and 18%. This change comes as India prepares for the start of Navaratri. This initiative aims to enhance domestic spending and mitigate the economic impact of US tariffs by significantly lowering tax rates on most personal use items. Following a lengthy GST…