Abstract:The Government of India has decided to remove all taxes on gains made by foreign investors from G-Secs, a clear strategy to make the country’s sovereign debt market more appealing to global capital. Issuing the Income Tax Amendment Ordinance, 2026, the government has exempted Foreign Institutional Investors (FIIs) from paying tax on interest earned on government securities (G-Secs). The ordinance also removes capital gains tax on the sale or transfer of such securities. The changes will apply retrospectively from April 1, 2026.

The Government of India has decided to remove all taxes on gains made by foreign investors from G-Secs, a clear strategy to make the countrys sovereign debt market more appealing to global capital.
Issuing the Income Tax Amendment Ordinance, 2026, the government has exempted Foreign Institutional Investors (FIIs) from paying tax on interest earned on government securities (G-Secs). The ordinance also removes capital gains tax on the sale or transfer of such securities.
The changes will apply retrospectively from April 1, 2026.
The Measures Announced by the Finance Minister to Attract Investors to Indias Capital Market
Aligning with the governments vision to make India as a leading global investment destination and to penetrate the capital market, the Finance Ministry has introduced a series of measures with a view to improving the ease of investment for individual Persons Resident Outside India (PROIs) and Foreign Portfolio Investors (FPIs) and to attracting long-term foreign capital flows, the government said in a statement.
The revised framework saw the reduction of the long-term capital gains (LTCG) tax on government securities from 12.5% to zero. The government also scrapped the withholding tax on interest income from these securities. Previously, the withholding tax rate was 20%. Consequently, returns earned by foreign investors from investments in Indian sovereign bonds will bear no tax.
The ordinance widens similar tax exemptions to the Bank for International Settlements (BIS), a Switzerland-based international financial institution that serves central banks globally.
The government reckons the tax overhaul will make India‘s appeal stronger among global debt investors amid a growing integration between the country’s bond market and international financial markets.
The governments decision is paramount as the country looks to penetrate its sovereign debt market and invite a larger pool of long-term capital from overseas.
Analysts expect the tax exemptions to continue to support demand for government bonds and further enhance the competitiveness of Indian debt relative to other emerging-market fixed-income instruments.
These reforms are aimed at decreasing operational complexities, simplifying market access, and ensuring a more seamless investment experience at par with leading international financial markets.
The government's decision to eliminate long-term capital gains tax and interest-related taxes on government securities for foreign investors marks a significant step toward making Indias sovereign debt market more globally competitive. By lowering investment costs and simplifying market access, the reforms are expected to attract greater foreign participation, deepen liquidity in the bond market, and strengthen India's position in global fixed-income portfolios. As India continues to integrate with international financial markets, these tax incentives could play a crucial role in drawing long-term overseas capital and supporting the country's broader economic and capital market development goals.
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