NEW DELHI: Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Sunday said individual persons residing outside India (PROI) will be permitted equity investments in listed Indian companies through a portfolio investment scheme.
The finance minister also proposed making framework with suitable access to funds and derivatives on corporate bond indices.
The government will continue to focus on developing infrastructure in cities with over 5 lakh population, she added.
Presenting the Union Budget 2026-27, Sitharaman proposed to upgrade WHO Global Traditional Medicine Centre at Jamnagar, Gujarat, while also stating that the country's telescope infrastructure will be upgraded to promote astrophysics and astronomy.
The government will also launch a pilot scheme to upgrade skills of 10,000 guides at 20 iconic tourist sites, while noting that India has potential to offer world-class experience in mountaineering.
Besides, she promised that the Centre will develop ecologically sustainable trails in Himachal Pradesh, Utttarakhand, and Jammu and Kashmir.