A new scheme called Rajiv Gandhi Equity Savings scheme is proposed in the Union Budget 2012-13 to encourage flow of saving in financial instruments and improve the depths of domestic capital market. 

The Union Finance Minister ShriPranab Mukherjee in his Budget speech in LokSabha today said that the scheme allows for income tax deduction of 50 per cent to new retail investors, who invest up to Rs 50,000 directly in equities and whose annual income is below Rs 10 lakhs. The scheme will have lock-in period of three years. The details will be announced in due course.