Government bonds are debt instruments issued by the central government to raise funds for public expenditure, infrastructure development, and other fiscal needs.
Investors lend money to the government in exchange for periodic fixed interest payments and the return of principal on maturity.
These bonds are backed by the government’s sovereign guarantee, making them one of the safest investment options with minimal credit risk.
Different types of government bonds are available, including Treasury Bills (T-Bills) for short-term needs and dated securities like G-Secs for medium to long-term investments.
Government bonds have predefined tenures, ranging from short-term treasury instruments to long-term securities extending up to 40 years.
In August 2026, India’s lower house of Parliament (the Lok Sabha) approved tax cuts for foreign investors who are investing in certain government securities, under the Taxation and Other Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2026. The change means that interest and capital gains earned by FIIs (foreign institutional investors) from government securities will be exempt from income tax arising on or after April 1, 2026. The Finance Ministry explained the reason behind this big move, stating that they want to attract stable and long-term foreign capital into the Indian government bond market.
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