Govt proposes to introduce single securities mkt code

The government on Monday proposed to introduce a unified securities markets code, a move that will help in boosting the ease of doing business in the country's financial markets.

The proposed move would help in cutting down compliance costs and reducing the friction between rules enacted by capital markets watchdog Sebi, depositories and government, experts said.

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman in her Budget speech for 2021-22 proposed to consolidate the provisions of Sebi Act, Depositories Act, Securities Contracts (Regulation) Act and Government Securities Act into a rationalised single securities markets code.

Towards investor protection, the minister also proposed to introduce an investor charter as a right for all investors in all financial products.

Lav Chaturvedi , ED and CEO of Reliance Securities said the single securities market code will bring out ease of doing business in Indian financial markets.

Divam Sharma, Co-Founder of Green Portfolio believes that securities market code is a welcome step towards a simpler Indian corporate legal framework and reducing compliance costs.

"It marks a step towards a single financial regulator and streamlining multiple laws, ordinances, guidelines and regulations," he added.

According to him, bringing Government Securities Act under the securities market code will also increase the credibility of government's borrowings and thrust of foreign capital with government looking to step up its borrowing for funding the allocations announced in the budget.

"The proposal to create a unified securities market code is very progressive as it aims to simplify and reduce the friction between rules enacted by various acts of Sebi, depositories, G-Secs," Tejas Khoday, Co-Founder and CEO of FYERS, said.

The initiative to introduce a unified code is a sign of great things to come. It shows that the government and Sebi are committed to improving the capital market ecosystem by strengthening the laws, he added.