The central government can sell stake in three big public sector banks. These three banks are UCO Bank, Punjab and Sindh Bank and Indian Overseas Bank. The government has more than 95% stake in these, the rest is with public investors.
Let us tell you that as per the Minimum Public Shareholding (MPS) rules of SEBI, all listed companies should have at least 25% public shareholding. Keeping this in mind, the government has made a plan to sell its stake.
Live Mint news quoted sources as saying that depending on market conditions, the three banks may conduct multiple rounds of qualified institutional placement (QIP) in FY2026 to meet regulatory requirements.
The government has allowed public sector banks to explore equity dilution this year and time their market offerings strategically, a source said. The stake sale is expected to be between 5-10% of the paid-up equity capital this year.
SEBI gave time till August 2026 to public sector banks to comply with the rule. At the same time, Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC) was given time till 16 May 2027 to reach 10% public shareholding.
By December 31, 2024, seven of the 12 public sector banks—State Bank of India, Punjab National Bank, Canara Bank, Bank of Baroda, Indian Bank, Union Bank of India and Bank of India—had fulfilled SEBI's MPS requirement.
Bank of Maharashtra and Central Bank of India have not yet taken steps to comply with the MPS rule. Let us tell you that the government has 93.08% stake in Central Bank of India, 79.60% in Bank of Maharashtra, 95.39% in UCO Bank, 98.25% in Punjab and Sindh Bank and 96.38% in Indian Overseas Bank.