Finance Minister extends ambit of RGES to MFs, exchange-traded funds

21 Sep 2012 Evaluate

In a move aimed at boosting investments in the securities market, Finance Minister P Chidambaram extended the ambit of Rajiv Gandhi Equity Scheme (RGES), which offers tax sops to first-time retail investors to mutual funds (MFs) and exchange-traded funds (ETFs).

Thus, to put across differently, the government’s RGES will be open to investments routed through MFs and ETFs besides direct investment by retail investors. However, the scheme, which will be notified in the next two weeks, would be applicable to investors who invest up to Rs 50,000 and have an annual income limit of Rs 10 lakh.

The move, which is aimed at encouraging people to invest in financial instruments rather than gold, comes at a time when the government is trying to cheer the markets ahead of a planned disinvestment in some of its public sector undertakings (PSU).

Further, investments made by retail investors in BSE100 and CNX100 stocks besides public sector undertakings (PSUs) such as the navaratnas will be eligible to derive benefits under the scheme. Further, Follow-on public offers (FPO) of these companies as well as initial public offerings of PSU’s with an annual turnover of more than Rs 4,000 crore will also be covered under the ambit.

Meanwhile, in a separate statement, the government easing norms to enable low-cost borrowings by Indian companies, cut withholding tax on overseas borrowings to 5 per cent from 20 per cent.

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