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ARTICLE · 25 MARCH 2026

From Brick To Byte: Decoding The Legal Architecture Of REITs In India

King, Stubb & Kasiva
King, Stubb & Kasiva
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King, Stubb & Kasiva

King, Stubb & Kasiva

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The evolution of India’s real estate sector has long been constrained by high entry barriers, opacity, and illiquidity. The introduction of Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs), however, marks a decisive shift, transforming real estate from a traditionally asset-heavy investment into a market-linked, regulated financial instrument.

IndiaReal Estate and Construction
Nayana Shivaraj
Nayana Shivaraj
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The evolution of India’s real estate sector has long been constrained by high entry barriers, opacity, and illiquidity. The introduction of Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs), however, marks a decisive shift, transforming real estate from a traditionally asset-heavy investment into a market-linked, regulated financial instrument.

At the heart of this transition lies a robust legal framework crafted by the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI), which has sought to strike a careful balance between investor protection and market innovation.

REITs as a Legal Innovation

REITs, by design, are not merely financial products, they are legal constructs that reimagine ownership. Structured as trusts, they enable fractional investment in income-generating real estate, while insulating investors from the operational complexities of property management.

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