In a landmark move for Indian financial markets, SEBI has approved the appointment of Ms. Upma Dada Chawdhry as Chairperson of the Governing Board of the Metropolitan Stock Exchange of India Limited (MSE) — making her the only woman to hold a Chairperson’s position among India’s Market Infrastructure Institutions (MIIs). It is a quiet but powerful moment for governance and gender representation in Indian finance.
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Who Is Upma Dada Chawdhry?
A 1983-batch IAS officer from the Himachal Pradesh cadre, Ms. Chawdhry carries over 35 years of distinguished service across finance, rural development, education, industry, tourism, women’s empowerment, and public sector reforms. Her career reads like a masterclass in institution-building.
In 2016, she became the first woman Director of the Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration — one of India’s most prestigious civil service training institutes. She has represented India at the World Trade Organization and collaborated closely with several United Nations agencies. Between 2018 and 2021, she served on the UN Committee of Experts on Public Administration and chaired its working group for the UN Public Service Awards.
Her new role at MSE adds yet another historic chapter to a career built on firsts.
| Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| Name | Ms. Upma Dada Chawdhry |
| IAS Batch & Cadre | 1983 batch, Himachal Pradesh |
| New Role | Chairperson, Governing Board, MSE |
| Approved By | SEBI |
| Previous Role at MSE | Public Interest Director |
| Historic Distinction | Only woman Chairperson among India’s MIIs |
| Notable Past Role | First woman Director, LBSNAA (2016) |
| UN Tenure | Member, UN Committee of Experts on Public Administration (2018–2021) |
What This Means for MSE
The Metropolitan Stock Exchange of India is the youngest stock exchange in the country, holding SEBI recognition across Equity, Equity Derivatives, Currency Derivatives, and Debt segments. It has been working to build innovative, inclusive market infrastructure — and this appointment signals a serious step forward in governance credibility.
MSE’s Managing Director & CEO, Ms. Latika S. Kundu, called Ms. Chawdhry’s appointment a moment of privilege for the exchange, noting that her guidance arrives at “a significant phase in MSE’s journey” as it works toward building a transparent and innovative market institution for new India.
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Q: Why is Upma Dada Chawdhry’s appointment historically significant?
She becomes the only woman Chairperson among all of India’s Market Infrastructure Institutions (MIIs), marking a significant milestone for gender representation in Indian financial markets.
Q: What is MSE and who regulates it?
MSE, or Metropolitan Stock Exchange of India Limited, is India’s youngest stock exchange, regulated and recognized by SEBI to operate across equity, derivatives, currency, and debt segments.
