Press Release

ASSOCHAM 16th Capital Market Conference highlights inclusive growth, regulatory reforms, and innovation as pillars of transformation

ASSOCHAM 16th Capital Market Conference highlights inclusive growth, regulatory reforms, and innovation as pillars of transformation

The 16th Capital Market Conference, organized by ASSOCHAM, brought together industry leaders, policymakers, and financial experts to discuss the evolving role of capital markets as a key catalyst for achieving India’s vision of Viksit Bharat by 2047.

Delivering a comprehensive vision, Mr. Tuhin Kanta Pandey, Chairman, SEBI, detailed how capital markets are powering long-term investments, innovation, and infrastructure development. With ₹93 lakh crore raised over the last decade and 13 crore unique retail investors, capital markets are a major engine of financial inclusion. He also spotlighted the rapid growth of AIFs, REITs/InvITs, and PMS, and the rising global confidence in India’s economy.

Mr. Pandey further outlined SEBI’s key initiatives to deepen markets and strengthen investor protection, including reforms in IPO listing timelines, the introduction of Flexi-cap derivatives, and growth in municipal bonds and the corporate bond market. SEBI’s tech-driven regulatory supervision is helping ensure market integrity while fostering innovation and accessibility.

In his welcome address, Mr. Manish Singhal, Secretary General, ASSOCHAM, emphasized that India’s capital markets are central to the country’s transformation into a developed economy. He highlighted the need to expand retail investor participation beyond Tier 1 and Tier 2 cities and integrate capital market education into school and university curricula to unlock India’s demographic dividend. He also called for a more transparent and simplified regulatory framework.

Ms. Nipa Sheth, Chairperson of ASSOCHAM’s National Council on Corporate Bond Market, underlined the collective power of robust equity markets, deep debt markets, dynamic AIFs, REITs/InvITs, and digitization in powering India’s growth. She noted that technology and financial inclusion are democratizing market access at an unprecedented scale.

Mr. Sundararaman Ramamurthy, MD & CEO of BSE, stated that efficient capital formation is a cornerstone of Viksit Bharat 2047. He highlighted the tremendous growth India has witnessed over the past 25–30 years—GDP up 32 times, market capitalization 118 times, and investor base 100 times—showcasing the importance of regulated, trusted markets.

Mr. K Ravichandran, EVP & CRO, ICRA, highlighted the strength of domestic capital markets in mobilizing resources and driving investment, even amid global uncertainties. He noted India's insulation from global shocks due to low external debt and supportive fiscal and monetary policies.

Mr. Ashishkumar Chauhan, MD & CEO of NSE Ltd., spoke on India’s rising global profile, driven by strong economic fundamentals and digital innovation. He emphasized NSE’s role in transforming financial markets and called for collaborative efforts to make markets resilient, inclusive, and globally competitive. NSE-led markets have raised over ₹60 lakh crore in recent years, a testament to their pivotal role in job creation and economic growth.

Ms. Aditi Mittal, Co-Chairperson of ASSOCHAM’s National Council on Corporate Bond Market, concluded the session with a vote of thanks to all speakers. She reiterated that enhancing productivity and private investment, simplifying regulations, and leveraging India’s demographic and technological advantages will be crucial to realizing Viksit Bharat @2047.