Shri Ashwani Bhatia, SEBI Whole-Time Member launches NSE’s dedicated website for Indian Municipal Bonds

Bengaluru, March 21, 2025: Shri Ashwani Bhatia, SEBI Whole-Time Member, today launched NSE’s dedicated website for municipal bonds. The website will serve as a centralized hub for market participants, offering comprehensive data on Indian municipal bonds market including issuances, credit ratings, trading volumes, intrinsic yields, and prices along with historical performance of India’s first municipal bond index – the Nifty India Municipal Bond Index. This initiative aims to enhance transparency, accessibility, and investor awareness in the municipal bonds market in India. By providing structured information and relevant updates, the initiative is set to strengthen confidence in municipal bonds as a viable investment avenue.

The website is accessible at www.IndiaMunicipalBonds.com

Key segments of the website include:

1.             Explore Bonds: Users can screen to filter and analyze outstanding municipal bonds based on parameters like credit rating, maturity, yield, etc. and compare multiple bonds based on these parameters
2.             Municipal Bond Index: Users can track the historical performance of the municipal bonds market using the Nifty India Municipal Bond Index and compare its historical performance with other relevant bond indices

       III.            Market Activity: Users can track aggregate and average daily trading values across municipal bond issuers for different periods

1.             Resources: This section includes various reports, articles, guidelines, regulations related to the Municipal Bonds market

Speaking on this landmark initiative, Shri Ashwani Bhatia, SEBI Whole-Time Member, stated: “The launch of a dedicated municipal bond website is a great initiative that will significantly enhance the credibility and visibility of municipal bonds market in India. This website will help bridge the information gap and attract investors to participate in financing urban development projects. As municipalities strive to raise funds for infrastructure growth, such measures are crucial in ensuring a

robust municipal bonds market. We look forward to leveraging this platform to further strengthen the municipal bonds ecosystem and drive sustainable urban development.”

Shri Ashishkumar Chauhan, MD & CEO of NSE, stated, “The launch of this website marks a significant step towards the development of the municipal bonds market in India. By offering structured data and greater market transparency, we are empowering investors with the knowledge and insights needed to make informed investment decisions. This initiative perfectly aligns with NSE’s purpose and vision to improve the financial well-being of people by fostering a more efficient, liquid, and well-regulated bond market. This initiative will encourage greater participation from institutional and retail investors, ultimately aiding the development of urban infrastructure.”