India has two main stock exchanges: the National Stock Exchange (NSE) and the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE). You will see their short names everywhere, along with well-known indices such as the Nifty 50 (NSE) and the Sensex (BSE).
A company can list on one or both
Listing is decided exchange by exchange. A company might be listed only on the BSE, only on the NSE, or on both. When a company's shares trade on more than one exchange, its price stays broadly similar on each, because traders quickly act on any gap.
| National Stock Exchange (NSE) | Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) | |
|---|---|---|
| Common short name | NSE | BSE |
| Well-known index | Nifty 50 | Sensex |
| Listing | A company may or may not be listed here | A company may or may not be listed here |
Fictional example: Sunrise Motors Ltd chooses to list on both the NSE and the BSE. Investors can trade its shares on either exchange, and a broker's app may show a single combined price.
How a share reaches you
Click each step to see what that part of the chain actually does.
Company
A business that decides to raise money by selling shares to the public. Once its shares are admitted to trading, it is 'listed'.
Where regulation fits in