For private firms, long road to a level playing field

The government wants the special treatment extended to PSUs to continue

The Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) is keen to level the playing field for public and private sector companies listed on the stock exchanges. Earlier this month, in an interaction with senior officials of public sector undertakings, Sebi Chairman Ajay Tyagi said having different norms for the two might be “perceived wrongly”. The Sebi chief went on to say the regulator will have a dialogue with the government on compliance of these companies with certain regulations.
 
But, Tyagi faces a tough road ahead. Take, for instance, the issue of minimum public shareholding norms. Listed companies are required