Mumbai, January 30 – In a landmark development for India’s capital markets, the National Stock Exchange (NSE) has received final approval from the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) for its much-awaited Initial Public Offering (IPO). This clearance ends years of regulatory hurdles that have kept one of the world’s largest stock exchanges from listing its shares publicly.
The NSE, which commands over 90% of India’s trading volumes, has been striving to go public since 2016. Delays stemmed primarily from controversies surrounding co-location facilities and governance issues under intense regulatory scrutiny. With SEBI’s green light now in hand, the onus shifts to NSE to expedite its listing process.
Sources indicate that NSE is gearing up to file its Draft Red Herring Prospectus (DRHP) by late March. The exchange is actively engaging investment bankers and legal experts to finalize the IPO documents. The DRHP will unveil critical details including issue size, pricing, and allocation strategies, drawing sharp focus from investors nationwide.
NSE Chairperson Srinivasan Iyer expressed elation over the approval, calling it ‘a significant milestone in our growth journey.’ He emphasized that this step initiates a new chapter of value creation for all stakeholders. Iyer further noted that the nod reinforces NSE’s pivotal role as a cornerstone of the Indian economy and a guidepost for capital markets.
Adding a cultural dimension, NSE MD & CEO Ashishkumar Chauhan recently visited Tirupati with family, offering prayers at Lord Venkateswara temple for the exchange’s prosperity, its members, shareholders, and the nation’s growth. This personal gesture underscores the high stakes involved.
Market observers recall SEBI Chairman Tuhin Kanta Pandey’s earlier hint that approval could come within the month, a timeline now met. As NSE prepares to unlock billions in value, investors are poised for the DRHP reveal, potentially marking one of India’s biggest IPOs in recent memory. The exchange’s listing could reshape market dynamics and boost liquidity for minority shareholders holding pre-IPO stakes.