REITs have a similar structure to that of mutual funds with a sponsor, fund Management Company and a trustee. The sponsor promotes the REIT with its funds, and the fund management company selects and buys properties for the portfolio. The trustee ensures that the funds collected are utilized and managed, keeping the investor's interest in mind. Through REITs, investors gain by earning regular income in the form of dividends and also can diversify their investment portfolio. REIT is regulated by the SEBI (Real Estate Investment Trusts) Regulations, 2014.
An Infrastructure Investment Trust (InvIT) is like a mutual fund, which enables direct investment of money from individual and institutional investors in infrastructure projects to earn a portion of the income as return. The InvIT is designed as a tiered structure with Sponsor setting up the InvIT which in turn invests into the eligible infrastructure projects either directly or via special purpose vehicles (SPV). InvIT are regulated by the SEBI (Infrastructure Investment Trusts) Regulations, 2014.