THEBUSINESSBYTES BUREAU

NEW DELHI, MAY 21, 2026

In a significant step towards deepening India’s financial market architecture, the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI), the National Institute of Securities Markets (NISM), and the Indian Institute of Corporate Affairs (IICA) under the Ministry of Corporate Affairs have entered into a landmark Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to jointly advance corporate governance standards, ESG integration, and capital markets development in India.

The MoU, signed in Mumbai on 19 May 2026, marks a long-term strategic collaboration aimed at building a robust ecosystem of knowledge exchange, capacity building, policy research and institutional synergy across key domains of India’s financial and corporate regulatory framework. The signing ceremony was graced by SEBI Chairman Shri Tuhin Kanta Pandey, underscoring the strategic importance of the partnership in shaping a performance-driven and globally aligned governance framework.

Under this collaboration, SEBI, NISM and IICA will jointly design and deliver specialised capacity-building programmes, certification courses, executive education modules and advanced training initiatives, including tailored programmes for SEBI officers and officials from other regulatory and financial sector institutions. The partnership is expected to significantly enhance regulatory expertise in emerging areas such as sustainability disclosures, responsible investing and market integrity.

SEBI Chairman Tuhin Kanta Pandey emphasised the need to build a governance ecosystem that not only strengthens investor confidence but also expands MSME access to capital markets, accelerates sustainability reporting, and promotes evidence-based regulatory research in evolving financial domains. His remarks highlighted the growing convergence between governance quality and market competitiveness in a rapidly transforming economy.

The collaboration has been strongly shaped by the vision of Gyaneshwar Kumar Singh, Director General & CEO of IICA, whose leadership has driven key institutional initiatives in corporate governance, ESG frameworks and responsible business conduct, aligning them with India’s broader development priorities.

The MoU signing ceremony was also attended by NISM Director Sashi Krishnan. It was formally signed by Yogita Jadhav, Registrar, NISM, on behalf of NISM, and Dr. Garima Dadhich, Head of the School of Business Environment at IICA, representing IICA.

The agreement establishes a comprehensive framework for cooperation in securities markets education, ESG and sustainability reporting including BRSR, insolvency, valuation, investor education, responsible finance, board governance and MSME-focused regulatory reforms. It also envisages joint research initiatives, policy studies, curriculum development, publications and flagship conferences, along with faculty and expert exchange programmes.

By integrating institutional strengths, the partnership is expected to accelerate India’s transition towards a more transparent, inclusive and knowledge-driven financial ecosystem, reinforcing the country’s ambition to build globally benchmarked standards in corporate governance and sustainable finance.