SEBI gives UPI payment option to invest in public issues of REITs, InvITs

 UPI or Unified Payment Interface, was provided as an additional way of payment by SEBI, to retail investors.

• This new framework will be applicable to public issue units of Infrastructure Investment Trust (InvIT) and Real estate investment trust (REIT).
• Previously in 2019 SEBI's process for payment of the above mentioned instruments was through Applications Supported by Blocked Amount (ASBA)
• Time taken for allotements and listing of units of privately placed InvIT has been reduced by SEBI.
• These moves was to streamline the process of allotement and listing of units.
• REITs and InvITs are new investment instruments in the Indian context, but extremely popular in global markets.
• REITs - A portfolio of commercial real assets, a major portion of which is already leased out.
• InvITs - A portfolio of infrastructure assets, sucha s highways and power transmission assets.