India, Aug. 21 -- For generations, owning real estate in India meant buying a flat, a plot or a commercial property and waiting for its value to rise. It also meant a large upfront investment, paperwork, maintenance and, often, years of waiting before the asset generated meaningful income.

Real Estate Investment Trusts, or REITs, are changing that equation.

The concept is simple: instead of buying an entire property, investors buy units of a trust that owns and operates income-generating real estate. The portfolio can include office parks, shopping centres and other commercial assets. Investors participate in the income generated by these properties without having to become landlords themselves.

And in 2026, India's REIT market is ente...