NSE Gets SEBI Approval To Shift Derivatives Expiry To Tuesdays

The communication from the capital markets regulator regarding the expiry day changes has been conveyed to both the exchanges

In a significant development for the Indian equity derivatives landscape, the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) has approved proposals from both the National Stock Exchange (NSE) and the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) to revise their respective weekly derivatives expiry schedules.

The NSE, which handles the largest volume of derivatives trading globally, has received the green light to shift its weekly expiry day to Tuesday. Meanwhile, the BSE has been permitted to change its expiry day to Thursday. The regulator formally communicated these changes to both exchanges following recommendations from its Secondary Market Advisory Committee (SMAC), which has been working on harmonizing market practices across platforms.

Implementation Timeline And Contract Guidelines

According to BSE, the transition will not affect all derivative contracts immediately. Contracts set to expire on or before August 31, 2025, will continue under the existing schedule. However, contracts with expiry dates beyond September 1, 2025, will align with the new Thursday cycle. Importantly, long-dated index options will also be realigned to match the revised expiry system.

Strategic Moves Amid Competitive Landscape

The changes come against the backdrop of intensifying competition between NSE and BSE in the fast-growing derivatives segment. NSE's shift to Tuesday is widely seen as a strategic response to BSE's rising market share in derivatives trading. While NSE remains the dominant player globally, recent trends have shown BSE gaining traction—prompting the former to recalibrate its approach.

Derivatives constitute a major revenue stream for both exchanges, and even minor shifts in trading volumes can carry significant financial implications. By having distinct expiry days, the exchanges aim to minimize overlapping activity and bring more structure to the trading week.

Regulatory Push For Market Discipline

The timing of the move is also noteworthy as SEBI continues its broader efforts to curb excessive speculation and bring more discipline to derivatives trading. Creating separate expiry windows is expected to improve market efficiency and reduce confusion among traders and investors.

With these new expiry days, both NSE and BSE are positioning themselves to provide clearer, more structured derivative trading frameworks while responding to evolving market dynamics and regulatory priorities.