BSE (India): Listing Requirements and IPO Guide

Headquarters

Mumbai, India

Region

Asia-Pacific

Market Focus

Broad Market & SME

Overview

BSE, formerly the Bombay Stock Exchange, was established in 1875 and is the oldest stock exchange in Asia. Its Sensex index of 30 leading companies is one of India's best-known market benchmarks.

BSE has one of the largest numbers of listed companies of any exchange in the world, and its BSE SME platform serves smaller businesses.

Known For

The Sensex index
A very large number of listed companies across sectors
BSE SME and startup platforms
Listing alongside NSE, which is common for larger Indian companies

Listing Considerations

Most large Indian companies list on both BSE and NSE
SEBI rules apply equally across both exchanges
SME platforms have lower thresholds but larger minimum investment sizes
BSE also operates India INX at GIFT City for international investors

Key Facts

Founded

1875

Operator

BSE Ltd

Regulator

Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI)

Main Index

BSE Sensex

Currency

Indian rupee (INR)

Trading Hours

9:15 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. IST, Monday–Friday

Market Segments

Main Board, BSE SME, BSE Startups platform

Official website →

Listing Requirements

Main Board: the same SEBI ICDR criteria as NSE (profitability route, or at least 75% of the issue to qualified institutional buyers)
Minimum public shareholding of 25%
BSE SME: post-issue paid-up capital of up to ₹25 crore; SEBI tightened SME IPO rules in 2025, including an operating profit test
Startups platform for technology and other new-economy companies

Headline eligibility from SEBI's ICDR Regulations and BSE SME rules, checked November 2026.

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