Key Points

Chawla said at a media event that public investment via budgetary support is on track, with 33 per cent of the annual allocation met by the end of July by front-loading key reforms.

“As markets stabilise, we will bring in more offers for sale, minority stake sales, and a few IPOs and speed up our journey,” he said.

Half a dozen OFS and minority stake sales are likely, along with 1-2 strategic sales, he said, adding that the IDBI Bank strategic divestment will be completed within this financial year.

Democratisation of capital markets has been a big reform, he said, adding that two-thirds of DII flows originated from individual investors, even amidst great nervousness for past few months in capital markets.

From January to August, while FIIs withdrew Rs 1 lakh crore in net outflow, DIIs poured in Rs 5 lakh crore into India's equity market, he noted.

Chawla described the government's disinvestment strategy as integrated, where the public sector has a bona fide role to play, as maintaining supply chain security is important.

The secretary said that dividends will play a significant role in the government's integrated disinvestment policy because the public sector, which makes up 14 per cent of market capitalisation, pays 25 per cent of dividends to small shareholders.

The government targets over Rs 1.2 lakh crore in dividend receipts this year and is on course to meet the asset monetisation target in FY26, he added.

In spite of global headwinds, very soon our capital markets will be third largest in the world, he further said.

- IANS