New Delhi, Dec. 19 -- Ever felt India's securities laws were a maze of Acts, clauses and circulars? The government seems to agree. Finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman has tabled the Securities Markets Code 2025, aiming to bring clarity, speed and accountability to market regulation. The Bill folds three key laws-the Sebi Act, Depositories Act and SCR Act-into one unified framework. Simpler rules, fewer overlaps, clearer enforcement. Sounds overdue, right?
But the code goes beyond consolidation. It tightens conflict-of-interest norms for Sebi officials, mandates disclosures and recusals, and even allows removal of officials whose interests may compromise their role-clearly shaped by recent controversies. It also tackles a long-standing indu...