Celebrating 150 years of the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE), Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman highlighted the critical role BSE has played in India’s financial evolution, drawing parallels between Mumbai’s Dalal Street and New York’s Wall Street. She remarked that BSE has not only served as India’s oldest stock exchange but also as a symbol of economic resilience.
Tracing the journey of the SENSEX, FM Nirmala Sitharaman noted its climb from around 550 points in 1986 to an all-time high of 80,000 in July 2024. This trajectory, she stated, mirrors the underlying strength and expansion of the Indian economy. Today, BSE commands a combined market capitalization exceeding ₹400 lakh crore, placing it among the top global stock exchanges.
“BSE has empowered businesses, startups, and industries to innovate and scale,” FM Sitharaman said. Emphasizing the significance of financial markets in national development, she also launched BSE’s CSR initiatives for FY2025–26. These include projects focused on solar rooftops in Andhra Pradesh and community welfare initiatives in Karnataka, reinforcing the spirit of inclusive growth.
Her remarks underscore BSE’s dual responsibility — as a market infrastructure institution and as a catalyst for social development. As India eyes becoming the third-largest economy by the end of the decade, institutions like BSE are expected to play a pivotal role in driving economic growth and democratizing wealth creation.
