The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) held a two-day Municipal Bond Outreach Programme in Thiruvananthapuram from June 30 to July 1, aimed at enhancing financial literacy among Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) and promoting innovative market-based financing mechanisms.
The programme focused on key topics including municipal bond issuances, regulatory compliance, credit ratings, continuous disclosures, and pool financing. Participants engaged with case studies and interacted with market intermediaries to gain practical knowledge for accessing capital markets.
As part of the event, SEBI highlighted its commitment to promoting transparency, market readiness, and sustainable urban infrastructure through municipal bonds. A key highlight was the launch of “The Green Book – On Climate Finance & Green Municipal Bonds” by the Vadodara Municipal Corporation (VMC). The book features Asia’s first globally certified Green Municipal Bond issued by VMC and is presented as a global case study for 2025, aimed at encouraging other ULBs to pursue sustainable financing.
SEBI also announced the integration of the ‘e-KYC Setu System’ developed by the National Payments Corporation of India, allowing registered intermediaries to perform Aadhaar-based e-KYC authentication—further easing compliance processes within the securities market.
