The government has extended the deadline for meeting minimum public shareholding norms for central public sector enterprises and public sector financial institutions till August 2026. The central government in the public interest provided exemption up to August 1, 2026, to increase public shareholding to at least 25 per cent in CPSEs and public sector banks and financial institutions, according to an office memorandum issued by the Ministry of Finance. Central Public Sector Enterprises (CPSEs) with public shareholding below 25 per cent and which could not increase their public shareholding to at least 25 per cent within the timeline stipulated in Rule 19A of Securities Contracts (Regulation) Rules 1957 will now get time for another two years. As per the earlier order, the two-year exemption was to end on August 1, 2024. The Securities and Exchange Board of India is requested to take further necessary action and bring this to the notice of the stock exchanges concerned, it said. Ou