NISM, SEBI and IICA Sign MoU to Strengthen Corporate Governance, ESG and Capital Markets Ecosystem

Addressing the gathering during the MoU signing ceremony, SEBI Chairman Shri Tuhin Kanta Pandey emphasized the importance of building a robust and performance-driven corporate governance ecosystem in India.

In a significant development aimed at strengthening India's corporate governance framework, sustainability ecosystem and securities markets, the National Institute of Securities Markets (NISM), established by the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI), and the Indian Institute of Corporate Affairs (IICA) under the Ministry of Corporate Affairs, have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to collaborate across multiple areas related to corporate governance, Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) standards, sustainability reporting and capital market development.

The MoU was signed in Mumbai on 19 May 2026 in the presence of SEBI Chairman Shri Tuhin Kanta Pandey, marking a major step toward building a knowledge-driven, transparent and inclusive ecosystem for India's financial and corporate sectors.

The agreement seeks to establish a long-term strategic partnership between the two premier institutions for promoting knowledge exchange, policy support, institutional cooperation, research and capacity building in emerging areas of securities regulation, sustainability and responsible business conduct.

Under the collaboration, NISM and IICA will jointly design and conduct a wide range of programmes including certification courses, executive education modules, professional training programmes and specialized capacity-building initiatives. These programmes will cater not only to market participants and professionals but also to SEBI officers and officials from other regulatory and financial sector institutions.

The partnership is expected to contribute significantly toward enhancing professional competencies in areas such as securities markets, ESG disclosures, corporate governance standards, market integrity and sustainable finance practices.

Addressing the gathering during the MoU signing ceremony, SEBI Chairman Shri Tuhin Kanta Pandey emphasized the importance of building a robust and performance-driven corporate governance ecosystem in India. He highlighted the growing need for enabling greater access of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) to capital markets while simultaneously strengthening sustainability disclosures and encouraging evidence-based research in emerging regulatory domains.

Shri Pandey underlined that India's rapidly evolving economic and financial landscape requires institutions to work collaboratively in building strong governance frameworks capable of supporting long-term economic growth, investor confidence and responsible business practices.

The collaboration was conceptualized under the leadership of Shri Gyaneshwar Kumar Singh, Director General and CEO of IICA, who has played a key role in driving IICA's strategic initiatives in the areas of corporate governance, ESG standards and responsible business conduct aligned with India's national development objectives.

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

According to officials, the collaboration will focus on a broad range of emerging and critical areas including Business Responsibility and Sustainability Reporting (BRSR), responsible investing, sustainable finance, board governance, valuation practices, insolvency frameworks, investor education and emerging regulatory mechanisms.

The two institutions will also undertake collaborative research projects, policy studies and curriculum development initiatives aimed at strengthening India's regulatory and governance ecosystem. The partnership further envisions faculty exchange programmes, joint publications, dissemination of best practices and organization of flagship national and international conferences on corporate governance and capital market reforms.

Experts believe the collaboration comes at an important time when India is witnessing rapid expansion of its capital markets, increased emphasis on sustainability disclosures and rising global investor expectations regarding governance and responsible business practices.

With ESG considerations becoming increasingly central to investment decisions and corporate strategies worldwide, the partnership between NISM and IICA is expected to support Indian businesses and regulatory institutions in adapting to evolving global standards and compliance requirements.

The initiative also aligns with the Government of India's broader efforts to strengthen ease of doing business, improve corporate transparency and build a globally competitive financial ecosystem supported by strong governance mechanisms and investor protection frameworks.

The collaboration is expected to play a crucial role in developing a highly skilled talent pool capable of addressing emerging challenges in securities regulation, sustainable finance, corporate governance and responsible investing.

Officials noted that the partnership reflects a shared commitment toward building a resilient, transparent and future-ready corporate ecosystem that can support India's long-term economic ambitions and its aspiration of becoming a leading global investment destination.