UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — SMEs unfamiliar with capital markets, lack intermediaries: SEBI

Q1. The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI), which regulates the SME IPO framework, derives its statutory status exclusively from which one of the following?

  • A. The Companies Act, 2013
  • B. The Securities Contracts (Regulation) Act, 1956
  • C. The SEBI Act, 1992
  • D. The Depositories Act, 1996

Q2. With reference to changes introduced by the SEBI (Issue of Capital and Disclosure Requirements) (Amendment) Regulations, 2025 vis-à-vis the pre-amendment regime, consider the following statements: 1. Before the 2025 amendment, an issuer was required to appoint a merchant banker for a rights issue; the amendment dispenses with this mandatory appointment. 2. The 2025 amendment doubles the minimum net worth requirement for Category II merchant bankers — who handle SME IPOs — from ₹5 crore to ₹10 crore. 3. The 2025 amendment raises the post-issue paid-up capital ceiling for the SME segment from ₹25 crore to ₹50 crore, beyond which migration to the main board becomes mandatory. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. Before the 2025 amendment, an issuer was required to appoint a merchant banker for a rights issue; the amendment dispenses with this mandatory appointment.
  2. The 2025 amendment doubles the minimum net worth requirement for Category II merchant bankers — who handle SME IPOs — from ₹5 crore to ₹10 crore.
  3. The 2025 amendment raises the post-issue paid-up capital ceiling for the SME segment from ₹25 crore to ₹50 crore, beyond which migration to the main board becomes mandatory.
  • A. 1 and 2 only
  • B. 2 and 3 only
  • C. 1 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3

Q3. Who, as the sole incumbent in 2026, heads the Securities and Exchange Board of India and has publicly flagged the absence of merchant bankers as a binding constraint on the SME capital market?

  • A. Madhabi Puri Buch
  • B. Tuhin Kanta Pandey
  • C. Ajay Tyagi
  • D. U.K. Sinha

Q4. With reference to the regulatory architecture of the SME capital market in India, consider the following statements: 1. The pre-listing process of SME IPOs is governed primarily by the SEBI (ICDR) Regulations, 2018. 2. Post-listing continuous obligations of SME-listed companies are governed by the SEBI (LODR) Regulations, 2015. 3. The administrative oversight of SEBI vests with the Ministry of Corporate Affairs. 4. A company listed on the SME segment whose post-issue paid-up capital exceeds ₹25 crore is required to migrate to the main board. Which of the statements given above is/are NOT correct?

  1. The pre-listing process of SME IPOs is governed primarily by the SEBI (ICDR) Regulations, 2018.
  2. Post-listing continuous obligations of SME-listed companies are governed by the SEBI (LODR) Regulations, 2015.
  3. The administrative oversight of SEBI vests with the Ministry of Corporate Affairs.
  4. A company listed on the SME segment whose post-issue paid-up capital exceeds ₹25 crore is required to migrate to the main board.
  • A. 3 only
  • B. 1 and 3
  • C. 2 and 4
  • D. 1, 2 and 4

Q5. The administrative oversight of SEBI — the regulator that operationalises the SME IPO and merchant-banker framework — is vested in which one of the following ministries/departments of the Government of India?

  • A. Department of Economic Affairs, Ministry of Finance
  • B. Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises
  • C. Ministry of Corporate Affairs
  • D. Department of Financial Services, Ministry of Finance
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