Why India’s IPO markets are heating up after slow first half of 2026

India's initial public offering (IPO) market has seen a resurgence in recent months after a sluggish start to the year. In July and August, numerous companies, including Jio Platforms and National Stock Exchange (NSE), began listing their shares on major stock exchanges, helping to alleviate some of the pent-up demand. These companies raised nearly Rs 29,000 crore in August and around Rs 26,500 crore in July, contributing to around 73% of the total Rs 75,518 crore raised in the first half of 2026.

Mainboard IPOs, where large, established companies sell their shares to the general public for the first time, have seen a significant boost, accounting for the majority of the fundraising. The rush to list shares is largely due to regulatory approvals nearing their expiration, which pushed companies to finalize their IPO plans.

Market conditions have also improved, with the Nifty 50 and Sensex indices recovering from a 14% decline caused by high crude oil prices, foreign outflows, and a weaker rupee. This stabilization has encouraged more companies to launch their IPOs, resulting in a significant increase in funds raised through mainboard IPOs compared to the same period last year.

However, the SME segment of the IPO market remains relatively sluggish due to stricter regulatory measures implemented by SEBI to protect smaller investors.