Best IPOs and Worst IPOs - SME & Mainboard - January 2026

FAQ

• What is an IPO?

  An initial public offering (IPO) is a procedure by which private companies sell their shares to public investors through a book-building process. Investors will bid to buy shares within a price band, and based on the highest number of bids received at a particular price, the issue price will be determined.

• What type of investors can participate in an IPO?

  QIBs are the registered institutional investors that directly apply in the Qualified Institutional Bidders category.

  HNIs are investors who apply for shares in an IPO worth above Rs 2 lakh and come under non individual investor (or HNI) category.

  Retail investors are individuals who apply for shares less than Rs 2 lakh in an IPO.

• How can I apply for an IPO?

  Investors should have a demat account with their broker. If you have a demat account, you can look for the IPO section in your demat account and select the company in which you want to invest in. Based on the amount you bid for, you will be classified either as a retail or HNI investor. Remember, the value of the shares for which you have placed bids in an IPO will be blocked from your account till the allotment of shares is completed. If you are allotted shares in the IPO, then any balance amount will be unblocked or credited into your account.

• How does the IPO allotment process work?

  The IPO allotment process depends on the category of investors:

  1. Retail Individual Investor (RII) Category Retail investors can bid for shares up to ₹2,00,000. Shares are allotted through a lottery system if the IPO is oversubscribed in this category. Each eligible applicant has an equal chance of receiving at least one lot, regardless of when the application was submitted, provided the application is valid.
  2. High Net-Worth Individual (HNI) Investors who bid for shares worth more than ₹2,00,000 fall under this category. Allotment in the HNI category is done on a proportionate basis, i.e., in proportion to the amount of the bid. For example, if you apply for 1% of the total shares available in this category, you will receive 1% of the shares allotted to HNIs.

  General Notes:

  • Oversubscription: If an IPO is heavily oversubscribed, the chances of allotment in the RII category decrease, and it is purely based on a random lottery.
  • Application Modes: Investors can apply through ASBA (Applications Supported by Blocked Amount) via their banks or through online platforms provided by brokers.