Question

Explain the recent Capital Market reforms in India.

Answer 1

A capital market refers to the market that deals in the trading of medium and long-term securities. That is, it deals in those securities that have a maturity period of greater than or equal to one year. Capital market comprises of instruments such as equity and preference shares, debentures, bonds, mutual funds, public deposits, etc. A capital market can be divided in two parts namely, Primary Market and Secondary Market. Primary market deals with issue of new securities. Issue of new securities in the primary market directs funds towards those entrepreneurs who either want to start a new enterprise or wish to expand the existing one. Secondary market, on the other hand, deals in the sale and purchase of the existing securities. That is, it deals in the trading of those securities that were initially issued in the primary market.

The history of capital market in the form of stock exchange dates back to the eighteenth century. The Government of India introduced the Companies Act in 1850 with the aim of generating investor interest in corporate securities. The first stock exchange was set up in India in the year 1875 as 'The Native Share and Stock Brokers Association' in Bombay. Later it was renamed as 'Bombay Stock Exchange' (BSE). In the subsequent years stock exchanges were developed in Ahemdabad, Calcutta and Madras.

In 1990s, the Indian secondary market only consisted of regional stock exchanges wherein, first being the BSE. However, after the reforms of 1991, the Indian Stock Market acquired a three-tier system. This consisted of Regional Stock Exchanges, National Stock Exchange and Over the Counter Exchange of India (OTCEI).

Regional Stock Exchange

The first Regional Stock Exchange was developed in Ahemdabad as Ahmedabad Stock Exchange (ASE) in 1894. Similarly, in 1908, Calcutta Stock Exchange (CSE) was established. Subsequently in the later years other regional stock exchanges were established in Calcutta, Madras, Ahemdabad, Delhi, Hyderabad and Indore. Recently, regional stock exchanges were developed in Coimbatore as Coimbatore Stock Exchange and in Meerut as Meerut Stock Exchange. Currently, there are 22 regional stock exchanges in India.

National Stock Exchange

The NSE is the latest technology driven stock exchange which was recognised in 1993. It started its operations in 1994 with trading in money market securities. Later, it also expanded its trading operations in capital market segment. NSE was set up in order to establish a nationwide platform for trading in all types of securities. It ensured development of fair and efficient securities market. Within the span of its existence, NSE has transformed the Indian capital market and has been able to take the stock market to the investor's door step. It has provided a wide screen-based automated trading system across the nation ensuring equal access to all the investors.

Over the Counter Exchange of India (OTCEI)

OTCEI is a company which was set up in 1990 under the Companies Act,1956 but later was recognised as a stock exchange under the Securities Contracts Regulation Act, 1956. It commenced its operations in trading in 1992 and is modelled along the lines of NASDAQ, the OTC exchange in USA. It aims at providing the small companies an easy access to the capital market. OTCEI provides a screen based nationwide trading system, that acts as a place where buyers meet the sellers and negotiate for an acceptable terms of trade. Herein, dealers can trade both in new issue of securities as well as secondary market. It is a single window exchange which provides a convenient, transparent and efficient avenue for capital market investment.