India’s National Stock Exchange may be situated in the world’s largest democracy, but even it cannot rest on its laurels in the current global economic environment. Last week, the exchange went on the road to drum up interest from European investors following the government’s introduction of a new scheme to attract foreign investment into the country.

The creation of the qualified foreign investor regime, passed by the Securities and Exchange Board of India in January, will allow individual and retail investors to directly invest in Indian equities and corporate debt. Previously, they were only able to invest in equity and debt through mutual funds.