With the West Asia war entering its sixth week and volatility spiking, India’s markets regulator — Securities and Exchange Board of India — has stepped in with a temporary fix.
What’s the move?
SEBI has given a one-time extension to companies that already have approval to launch IPOs but are holding back due to weak market conditions.
If their approval was set to expire between April 1 and September 30, they now get time till September 30.
Why does this matter?
In India, companies typically have 12-18 months to go public after getting regulatory clearance. Miss that window, and the approval lapses.
Right now, many firms don’t want to list into a falling or uncertain market. This extension prevents them from being forced into bad timing.
SEBI has also relaxed rules requiring at least 25% public shareholding at listing — no penalties till September 30.
How big is the impact?
Roughly 40 companies looking to raise about ₹43,500 crore were at risk of losing approvals.
Big picture
This isn’t new. SEBI did something similar during COVID.
The message is simple:
Don’t rush to list in a bad market. Wait it out.
First Published: Apr 7, 2026 6:44 PM IST
