National Stock Exchange (NSE) CEO Ashish Kumar Chauhan on Sunday, 21 June said yoga has grown indispensable in modern life, offering solutions to both physical ailments and mental stress — a message he delivered on the occasion of International Day of Yoga. Chauhan credited Prime Minister Narendra Modi's diplomatic push for the United Nations recognising 21 June as the global yoga day in 2015.

Why Yoga Matters in the Digital Age

Chauhan pointed to the surge in screen time as a growing public health concern. 'This has led to several health-related issues, and yoga can play an important role in addressing many of these problems,' he said. With millions of Indians now spending extended hours on computers, mobile phones, and other digital devices, the NSE chief argued that yoga offers a cost-free, equipment-free path to wellness.

'Yoga teaches us that we can keep ourselves fit and healthy without the need for any external equipment or support,' Chauhan noted. The observation resonates particularly in a post-pandemic world where sedentary work patterns have become the norm for a large section of India's professional workforce.

Chauhan's Advice to Young Indians

Urging young people to adopt yoga early, Chauhan said the benefits compound over time. 'Most people do not face major health issues until the age of 25 or 30. However, if you start focusing on yoga early in life, it can help prevent a number of physical as well as mental health problems later on,' he said. The NSE chief added that regular practice can sharpen decision-making — a skill he described as central to both personal well-being and professional performance.

NSE IPO: Co-location and Dark Fibre Cases Cloud the Listing

Separately, the NSE remains under regulatory scrutiny as it pursues a long-anticipated initial public offering (IPO). The exchange's Draft Red Herring Prospectus (DRHP) has disclosed that the co-location and dark fibre cases — both long-pending — are yet to be resolved.

According to the DRHP, NSE has proposed a settlement payment of ₹1,491.21 crore to the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) to close the matter. The disclosures appear under the material legal proceedings section and cover cases currently pending before the Supreme Court, SEBI, and other judicial and regulatory forums.

What the Dark Fibre Case Involves

In the dark fibre matter, SEBI had raised concerns that certain trading members were provided dedicated point-to-point connectivity through an unauthorised service provider, allegedly granting them a latency advantage over other market participants. The allegation, if upheld, would mean some brokers could execute trades fractions of a second faster than rivals — a significant edge in high-frequency trading environments.

The unresolved status of these cases is a material risk factor for prospective IPO investors, and their disclosure in the DRHP signals that NSE's path to listing remains contingent on regulatory clarity. How SEBI and the Supreme Court proceed will be closely watched by the market.