Nifty PSU Bank
The Nifty PSU Bank is a sector index that monitors the performance of India's public sector banks. The central or state government owns these banks through at least 51% of the shareholding. The index gives investors a simple indication of how PSU bank stocks perform in the market on a day-to-day basis. It is applied ubiquitously by traders, analysts, and fund managers as a benchmark for investment in the public banking sector. If you want to invest in stocks like PSU banks, this index offers a reliable benchmark to track sector performance.
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What Is the Nifty PSU Bank Index?
The Nifty PSU Bank index is constituted to capture the behaviour and performance of public sector banks in India. It has 12 PSU bank stocks listed on the National Stock Exchange. The index is updated in real-time and captures the collective strength of government-owned banks.
How Is the Nifty PSU Bank Calculated ?
The Nifty PSU Bank index value is calculated using the formula:
Index value = Current free float market capitalisation/ (Base free float market capitalisation * Base Index Value)
The index is reviewed twice a year, based on performance between January and June and between July and December. It is changed, by adding or deleting stocks, on the last working day of March and September to maintain its relevance. This half-yearly review ensures that the index remains consistent with the performance of public sector banks.
It was introduced on January 1, 2004, with an initial base value of 1000. The index is computed using the free-float market capitalisation approach, which excludes promoter holdings. This ensures that the index accurately reflects the changing banking sector and serves as a good benchmark for performance.
Nifty PSU Bank: Constituent Selection Criteria
The Nifty PSU Bank Index reflects public sector banks that meet predetermined criteria. The choice is to ensure transparency, liquidity, and equitable representation of PSU banks in the index.
- Need to be listed on NSE and part of the public banking sector
- Minimum government holding of 51% (central/state, direct or indirect)
- Should rank among the top 800 companies in the NIFTY 500 list
- Minimum listing history: 6 months (3 months for IPOs)
- Minimum 90% trading frequency in the last 6 months
- In the event of eligible stocks falling below 10, short-fall is replenished from the top 800 of NIFTY 500 on turnover & market cap basis
- Final selection based on free-float market capitalisation ordering
- Weight constraints: 33% for an individual stock, 62% for the top three in total

How Does the Nifty PSU Bank Work ?
The PSU Nifty works by grouping the best PSU banks together and tracking their collective performance. The index rises when these banks perform well and falls when they encounter problems. It is rebalanced twice a year to ensure that only banks that meet liquidity and market capitalisation requirements are included. This ensures that the index provides the most accurate representation of the banking industry in the public sector.
The bank PSU Nifty functions by grouping top PSU banks and following their aggregate performance. If these banks are doing well, the index goes up, and if they are struggling, the index decreases. It is rebalanced every six months to ensure that only banks that are liquid and have a market capitalisation are reflected in the index. This ensures that the index provides the most updated view of the public sector banking sector.
What Are the Benefits of Investing in the Nifty PSU Bank ?
By investing in the Nifty PSU Bank index, you can get exposure to all of India's central public sector banks in one investment. It reduces the need to buy individual PSU bank shares. The index spreads investments across several banks, which lowers risk compared to putting all your money into a single stock.
It also serves as a standard for mid- and long-term investors who want to monitor banks that the government backs. With government support and reforms in the sector, PSU banks can benefit from long-term growth, making the index a valid investment option. To take advantage of such opportunities, you can open free Demat account online and start building your portfolio with exposure to PSU banks and other sectors.