Jio and NSE Set to File for India's Largest Ever IPOs This Week

The Indian primary market is bracing for a historic week as two of the country's most anticipated giants, Reliance Jio and the National Stock Exchange (NSE), are expected to file their draft IPO papers. Together, these filings could represent a massive $6 billion fundraising effort, potentially redefining the scale of India's capital markets.

Reliance Jio: Aiming to Break All Previous Records

Reliance Jio Infocomm is positioned to be the crown jewel of this IPO wave. Reports suggest the telecom giant may lodge its draft prospectus with SEBI ahead of Reliance Industries’ Annual General Meeting (AGM) this Friday. With an expected offering size of $4 billion, Jio is on track to eclipse Hyundai Motor India’s $3.3 billion sale, making it the largest listing in Indian history.

The deal structure has undergone significant changes; Reliance has reportedly shifted from a planned offer-for-sale (OFS) to a fully fresh issue following discussions with existing investors regarding pricing. While billionaire Mukesh Ambani had previously targeted a first-half 2026 window, this filing marks a critical step forward despite a challenging year for the parent group, which saw a 15% drop in share price and a 13% decline in net profit for the quarter ended March.

NSE: A Dominant Monopoly Heads to the Mainboard

Following closely behind is the National Stock Exchange (NSE), India's dominant bourse. The exchange is expected to file its draft papers by Friday, a move that could provide much-needed sentiment to the broader new-issue market. The NSE currently trades in the unlisted market at approximately Rs 1,950–2,050 per share, implying a massive valuation of nearly Rs 5 lakh crore.

The proposed NSE offering is expected to raise between $2 billion and $2.5 billion (over Rs 20,000 crore), structured entirely as an offer-for-sale. This means existing shareholders will sell roughly 4% to 4.5% of their stake, while the exchange itself receives no fresh growth capital. Analysts note that while the exchange commands a rich valuation—trading at around 45 times FY26 earnings—it remains cheaper than domestic peers like BSE (70x) and MCX (80x).

These mega-IPOs arrive at a complex time for Indian equities. The market has faced headwinds, including a broader equity downturn and geopolitical tensions in the Middle East. Total listing proceeds in 2026 have seen a 39% year-on-year decline to Rs 198 billion ($2.1 billion), according to Prime Database.

However, the recent $75 billion SpaceX IPO in the US has provided a global benchmark for success, emboldening Indian companies to pursue massive valuations. For the Indian primary market, which has been searching for a catalyst, the simultaneous filing of Jio and NSE could serve as the ultimate trigger to revive investor enthusiasm and set the stage for a blockbuster year.

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