India’s premier stock exchange, NSE, announced on Friday a pivotal regulatory breakthrough: final SEBI approval for its IPO. This development propels NSE closer to public listing after more than a decade of setbacks linked to co-location controversies and governance probes.

Since announcing IPO plans in 2016, NSE has navigated turbulent waters, including SEBI investigations into unfair trading advantages via co-location servers. Friday’s approval lifts the final barrier, leaving market execution in NSE’s court.

The exchange plans to submit its DRHP by the end of March, currently in discussions with top investment banks and law firms to polish the prospectus. This document will be the investor’s first comprehensive peek into IPO specifics like valuation, lot sizes, and promoter holdings.

In an official statement, NSE Chairperson Shri Srinivasan Injeti hailed the clearance as a ‘milestone moment,’ underscoring its role in stakeholder value and affirming NSE’s stature in India’s economic framework. ‘This approval strengthens confidence in NSE as an integral part of the economy and capital markets navigator,’ he added.

On a spiritual note, CEO Ashish Chauhan’s recent Tirupati pilgrimage sought divine blessings for NSE’s success and national development. SEBI Chair Tuhin Kanta Pandey had forecasted this approval earlier this month, aligning perfectly with expectations.

The IPO frenzy builds as NSE, with its dominant equity cash market share, eyes a blockbuster debut. Analysts predict substantial subscription interest, potentially rivaling recent mega-issues. With DRHP on the horizon, the investment community braces for detailed disclosures that could catalyze NSE’s next growth phase, enhancing transparency and shareholder participation in Asia’s leading bourse.