NSE IPO in the next seven to eight months, says MD & CEO Ashish Kumar Chauhan: Exclusive

The National Stock Exchange (NSE) is looking at a seven to eight-month timeline for its initial public offering (IPO), MD and CEO Ashish Chauhan told CNBC-TV18's Shereen Bhan on Saturday, January 21.

Chauhan said NSE has received the NOC from the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) for the IPO and the exchange is now working on the Draft Red Herring Prospectus (DHRP).

The IPO will be a pure offer for sale (OFS) and the exchange is in the process of taking shares from existing shareholders, Chauhan said.

The DRHP preparation will take around three to four months, following which the SEBI approval could take another two to three-months. "Overall, we are looking at a seven to eight-month timeline from now," Chauhan said, adding that the NSE is targeting the end of this year for the IPO.

Meanwhile, on Budget 2026 expectations, he said that every year they raise their hopes, but the Centre has to remain fiscally responsible. On the buzz around an STT cut, he said whatever comes in the Budget is absolutely fine with the exchange.