Tata Group stocks rise sharply on Tuesday after the Reserve Bank of India rejects Tata Sons’ application to remain private, driving renewed expectations that the holding company may be required to list on stock exchanges. Tata Chemicals’ shares hit the 20% upper circuit on the BSE, and Tata Investment Corporation gained 15%, while several other group firms also posted gains.

The RBI rejection follows Tata Sons’ request to surrender its registration as a core investment company after being classified as an upper-layer NBFC. The application was filed in March 2024. According to reporting, the RBI had earlier directed large upper-layer NBFCs, including core investment companies with assets above ₹1 trillion, to complete stock-market listings within three years.

Outlets note that market reaction is linked to the possibility of a future IPO by Tata Sons, though Tata Sons can potentially challenge the directive. Tata Trusts hold about 65.9% of Tata Sons and, along with Chairman Noel Tata and trustees, maintain that the holding company should remain private. Analysts say a listing could help market valuation for listed Tata entities that hold investments in the parent.