The Indian primary market is poised for a significant milestone in 2026, with the National Stock Exchange (NSE) set to launch its highly anticipated initial public offering (IPO). This mega offering is projected to push the total funds raised by Indian corporates through IPOs past the impressive ₹1 lakh crore mark, making it the third consecutive year and fourth time overall that this benchmark has been achieved.
NSE's Mega IPO Details
The NSE IPO is scheduled to open on September 17. It will be entirely an offer-for-sale (OFS), meaning existing shareholders will be selling 12,64,36,550 equity shares, representing approximately 5.11 per cent of the company's stake. At the upper end of its price band, this stake sale is expected to fetch ₹22,568.92 crore for the selling shareholders. Importantly, the NSE itself will not receive any proceeds from this IPO.
A Resurgent Primary Market
According to data compiled by PRIME Database, the IPO market has shown robust activity throughout 2026. Between January and August, 62 mainboard IPOs collectively raised ₹73,673.54 crore. Additionally, 126 SME IPOs contributed ₹5,738.88 crore during the same period. With the inclusion of issues in September, including NSE's, the total number of mainboard IPOs is set to reach 82.
This year's fundraising trajectory continues a strong trend. Previous years saw substantial capital garnered through IPOs: ₹1,75,914.29 crore in 2025, ₹1,59,783.76 crore in 2024, and ₹1,18,723.17 crore in 2021.
The market has been particularly vibrant recently, with six IPOs opening concurrently on September 9—a rare occurrence not seen in nearly three decades. August witnessed 23 IPOs, July had 12, and June saw seven, highlighting sustained investor interest and corporate activity in the primary market.
Future Outlook: Jio Platforms IPO on the Horizon
Looking ahead, the pipeline for future IPOs remains strong. PRIME Database indicates that 159 companies have already secured SEBI approval but have yet to announce their opening dates. Among these, Jio Platforms Ltd, the digital and telecommunications arm of Reliance Industries Ltd (RIL), is reportedly preparing to begin investor outreach for its initial public offering as early as next week.
Bloomberg reports suggest that Jio Platforms plans to engage with investors across major financial hubs including the US, Singapore, Hong Kong, London, and the Middle East. This highly anticipated offering is widely expected to become the largest IPO ever to hit the Indian market, further solidifying the nation's position as a dynamic hub for capital markets.