Growth of Financial Market in India and Its Reasons
Growth of Financial Market in India and Its Reasons
Growth of Financial Market in India and Its Reasons
Financial markets refer broadly to any marketplace where the trading of securities occurs,
including the stock market, bond market, forex market and derivatives market. Financial
markets are vital to the smooth operation of capitalist economies.
Pre-Independence era, especially the period of 1857 to 1947, was a mixed bag for the re-birth of the modern
“Indian Financial System”. In this era, the financial system was highly informal with elementary financial
market structures.
After “Independence” political leadership favoured socialist ideals and undertook an approach of planned
economic development. This approach needed the distribution of financial resources under government
control. This need for control resulted in the public ownership of financial institutions starting with the
Reserve Bank of India. In the year 1956, the “Imperial Bank” became the “State Bank of India”. In this same
year, political leadership nationalized 245 insurance companies and provident societies to create “Life
Insurance Company” (LIC) of India. In the year 1969. This era also witnessed the establishment of
government-controlled new institutions, like “Unit Trust of India” (1964) which gave birth to the Mutual
Fund industry in the country.
Indian Financial System hit with a wave of transformation after the BOP crisis of 1991 and consequent
liberalization of the economy. Post-1991 Indian political leadership embraced the ideals of a liberal market
economy. This adoption of the market lead approach started reduction in state control over the financial
system. State also started accepting a role of facilitator or regulator and reformer than the owner of financial
intermediaries and markets. This change started a reorganization of the financial system at a fundamental
level. Political leadership established three new regulators, namely SEBI (Est. 1992, Statutory status was
given), IRDAI (Est. 1999), and PFRDA (Est. 2003).
Two sectors that need their due credit are Insurance and Mutual fund and, the post-1991 period was
especially good for these sectors. Various national and foreign entities beginning to participate in the Mutual
fund sector and lead to the diversification of the sector. Under the regulatory purview of IRDA, the
insurance sector has become a much more disciplined and dynamic sector with the participation of national
and foreign players. This sector with a highly diversified product portfolio with a much wider inclusion of
customers has also strengthened the financial system in India.
The post-1991 era transformed the Indian Financial System with a newer type of organizational
infrastructure like Credit Rating Agencies, Technical Consultancies, Custodian Service Providers, portfolio
managers, Foreign Institutional Investors brought much needed dynamism in the economy.
The Indian stock markets had remained stagnant due to the rigid economic controls. It was only in 1991,
after the liberalization process that Indian securities market witnessed a flurry of IPOs. The market saw
many new companies spanning across different industry segments and business began to flourish.
The launch of the NSE (National Stock Exchange) and the OTCEI (Over the Counter Exchange of India) in
the mid-1990s helped in regulating a smooth and transparent form of securities trading.
The regulatory body for the Indian capital markets was the SEBI (Securities and Exchange Board of India).
The capital markets in India experienced turbulence after which the SEBI came into prominence. The
market loopholes had to be bridged by taking drastic measures.
CONCLUSION
India is expected to be the fourth largest private wealth market globally by 2028.
India is today one of the most vibrant global economies on the back of robust banking and insurance sectors.
The relaxation of foreign investment rules has received a positive response from the insurance sector, with
many companies announcing plans to increase their stakes in joint ventures with Indian companies. Over the
coming quarters, there could be a series of joint venture deals between global insurance giants and local
players.
The Association of Mutual Funds in India (AMFI) is targeting nearly five-fold growth in AUM to Rs. 95
lakh crore (US$ 1.47 trillion) and more than three times growth in investor accounts to 130 million by 2025.
India's mobile wallet industry is estimated to grow at a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 150% to
reach US$ 4.4 billion by 2022, while mobile wallet transactions will touch Rs. 32 trillion (USD$ 492.6
billion) during the same period.
According to Goldman Sachs, investors have been pouring money into India’s stock market, which is likely
to reach >US$ 5 trillion, surpassing the UK, and become the fifth-largest stock market worldwide by 2024.