New Delhi: In a first-of-its-kind initiative, the Foundation for Public Awareness and Policy (FPAP) brought together the diplomatic community in Delhi and the National Stock Exchange of India Limited (NSE) for an interaction on June 9th, 2025, in Delhi. The theme of the interaction was “Road to Viksit Bharat: Contribution of Capital Markets,” highlighting the critical role of India’s capital markets in achieving the vision of Viksit Bharat by 2047, as enunciated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, said an official press statement.

The inaugural interaction, as part of the series, brought together several Heads of Foreign Missions in Delhi and Shri Ashishkumar Chauhan, Managing Director and CEO of the NSE. The event was hosted and moderated by Dr. Vijay Chauthaiwale, Vice Chairman and Trustee, FPAP, and a renowned scientist. Dr. Anirban Ganguly, Chairman of FPAP, was also present at the interaction.

The exclusive interaction is aimed at strengthening India’s global partnerships through meaningful dialogues between the diplomatic community and key stakeholders in India’s financial ecosystem, given that NSE is at the epicenter of this ecosystem. The interaction provided comprehensive insights into how India’s capital markets serve as a gateway to the country’s economic growth story and their pivotal contribution to India’s journey towards becoming a developed nation by 2047. Going forward, FPAP plans to hold such regular interactions between the diplomatic community and NSE to facilitate awareness and comprehensive understanding of India’s capital markets.

The session facilitated an in-depth understanding of India’s robust financial infrastructure, market reforms, and the growing significance of Indian capital markets on the global stage. The informal and candid nature of the interaction facilitated valuable perspectives on investment opportunities, regulatory frameworks, and the transformative role of technology in India’s financial sector evolution for the Heads of the Foreign Missions in Delhi.

Speaking about the initiative, Dr. Vijay Chauthaiwale, Vice-Chairman and Trustee, The Foundation for Public Awareness and Policy (FPAP), said, “At the FPAP, our dialogues with the Heads of Missions in Delhi strengthen India’s global partnerships. Such interactions amplify public awareness and help shape policies that aid India’s growth trajectory. Economic growth is fundamental to attaining the goal of Viksit Bharat by 2047, as envisioned by our Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi. To this effect, the role of the National Stock Exchange (NSE) is vital. NSE, the country’s leading stock exchange, is the gateway to the Indian economy and the country’s first fintech company, as well as the first technology leader. Through such interactions with institutions such as the NSE, we aspire to bridge India’s financial strength with global aspirations.”

Shri Ashishkumar Chauhan, MD and CEO, NSE, said on the initiative, “Interacting with the Heads of Missions in Delhi underscores our commitment to positioning India’s capital markets as a global benchmark, driving economic diplomacy and investor confidence. Under Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi and Hon’ble Finance Minister Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman, India has become the fourth-largest capital market globally after the USA, China (including Hong Kong), and Japan. India’s market capitalization has increased over six times in 11 years — from ₹74 lakh crore (US$ 1.2 trillion) as of May 2014 to about ₹450 lakh crore (US$ 5.2 trillion) today. This surge reflects growing public trust in the Government of India, Indian entrepreneurs, and the country’s future. Such interactions with the diplomatic community reinforce our commitment to Viksit Bharat by 2047.”

The interaction represented a significant milestone in showcasing India’s financial market capabilities to the international diplomatic community and fostering a deeper understanding of the country’s economic potential and investment opportunities. The interaction emphasized India’s remarkable journey in becoming a global financial hub, with discussions covering market depth, liquidity, and the innovative use of technology that has positioned NSE as a world-class exchange. The interaction also highlighted India’s commitment to financial inclusion, sustainable finance initiatives, and the role of capital markets in channeling investments towards infrastructure development and economic growth. The Heads of Foreign Missions expressed keen interest in understanding how India’s capital market ecosystem supports both domestic and international investors while contributing to the broader economic development agenda.