The National Stock Exchange (NSE) has added 250 securities to its permitted-to-trade list this year, increasing average daily turnover on these assets to ₹400 crore. As the exchange prepares for its public listing on September 25, 2026, the expansion highlights a complex balancing act between boosting market liquidity and addressing regulatory concerns about the platform's self-trading ambitions.
The National Stock Exchange (NSE) has significantly expanded its permitted-to-trade (PTT) category, adding 250 securities throughout 2026. This framework allows investors to trade stocks on the NSE that are primarily listed on other exchanges, such as the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE), without needing a formal primary listing on the NSE. The move has successfully improved market activity, with average daily turnover for these specific assets rising from approximately ₹92 crore to ₹400 crore.
This expansion comes at a critical time as the NSE approaches its highly anticipated initial public offering, currently scheduled for September 25, 2026. The timing has fueled market discussion regarding whether the exchange intends to allow its own shares to be traded on its platform through this same PTT framework post-listing. However, this prospect is currently facing regulatory scrutiny. The Securities and Exchange Board of India and other market observers have pointed to potential conflict-of-interest concerns. Because an exchange functions as a first-level regulator for the companies traded on its platform, allowing self-trading creates a unique challenge that requires a comprehensive regulatory assessment.
While the expansion has boosted liquidity, the quality of the newly added securities is an important monitorable for investors. An analysis of the 250 added stocks reveals that many do not meet the exchange's standard criteria for a direct listing. A significant portion of these companies falls short of key benchmarks, including paid-up capital, revenue, and market capitalization requirements. Specifically, only a small fraction of the added stocks currently satisfies the exchange's strict direct-listing criteria.
Furthermore, market integrity remains a priority, and the exchange has placed more than half of these 250 securities under special surveillance measures. Specifically, 127 of the added stocks have been brought under Additional Surveillance Measure (ASM) or Graded Surveillance Measure (GSM) frameworks. These measures are designed to control volatility and protect investors from excessive speculation in potentially risky stocks. For investors, the next important updates will be the official commencement of the NSE IPO, the final regulatory decision regarding the exchange's self-trading proposal, and the ongoing financial performance of these newly permitted companies.