SEBI’s FY26 Overhaul: Template-Based IPO Filings & Regulatory Spring Cleaning

India's market watchdog just dropped a bombshell—IPO paperwork is getting a facelift.

Say goodbye to filing free-for-alls. SEBI's rolling out standardized templates in FY26, forcing companies to color inside the lines when going public. No more creative accounting hiding in bespoke documents.

The cleanup doesn't stop there. Regulators are sharpening their knives for a full rulebook scrub—because nothing says 'efficient markets' like 500 pages of compliance theater getting trimmed.

Active verbs only? Check. SEBI slashes red tape, streamlines disclosures, and (allegedly) makes life easier for investors. We'll believe it when we see it—this is finance, after all.

One cynical jab? Naturally: 'Because nothing builds investor confidence like bureaucrats deciding what 'transparency' looks like.'

SIF strategies

SEBI also plans to allow a broader set of strategies under SIFs, which bridge the gap between mutual funds and portfolio management services. SIFs currently offer limited strategies in equity, debt, and hybrid categories, with a minimum investment of ₹10 lakh. It WOULD also be reviewing the existing framework and exploring alternatives to allow FPIs in non-cash settled non-agricultural commodity derivative contracts.

The regulator has identified ₹77,800 crore in ‘difficult to recover’ dues, up nearly 2 percent from last year. Over ₹61,200 crore relates to matters before court-appointed committees, while ₹12,300 crore is tied to parallel proceedings in various courts and tribunals.

Other regulatory reviews are underway, including the margin trading funding (MTF) framework — with the MTF book at ₹92,000 crore as of August 8 — and a committee review of Takeover Regulations to align them with global practices and judicial rulings.

Published on August 12, 2025