India Tops the World in IPO Count, Ranks Third Globally in Fundraising: SEBI

India continued to cement its position as one of the world's hottest destinations for public listings in FY2025-26, topping the global charts in the number of initial public offerings (IPOs) while emerging as the third-largest market by funds raised, according to SEBI's Annual Report 2025-26.

The market regulator said India's primary equity market remained remarkably resilient despite a year marked by geopolitical conflicts, trade tensions, volatile capital flows and global economic uncertainty.

"The primary equity market demonstrated continued dynamism, with India ranking first globally in the number of IPOs and third in terms of funds raised," SEBI Chairman Tuhin Kanta Pandey said in the report.

To keep the momentum going, SEBI introduced a series of reforms aimed at making it easier for companies to raise capital while safeguarding investor interests.

Among the key changes, the regulator revamped the minimum public offer framework by linking public shareholding requirements to the size of an issue. It also extended the deadline for the country's largest listed companies to achieve the mandatory 25 per cent public shareholding to 10 years, giving large businesses greater flexibility after listing.

In another significant move, SEBI allowed founders of new-age companies to retain employee stock options (ESOPs) granted before an IPO, preserving long-term incentives while ensuring greater transparency for public investors.

Pandey said India's capital markets had demonstrated resilience during one of the most challenging global environments in recent years and highlighted SEBI's focus on building "resilience by design" through smarter regulation, AI-driven market oversight and simpler compliance norms.

He also underscored the growing importance of capital markets in financing India's long-term ambitions.

According to the report, achieving the country's development goals, including investments in infrastructure, manufacturing and the clean energy transition, will require significantly larger pools of capital than the banking system alone can provide.

SEBI said it will continue strengthening the equity market, corporate bond market and alternative investment ecosystem to support India's journey towards becoming a developed economy by 2047.

(With inputs from ANI)