The much-awaited Jio IPO opens for the public tomorrow, Wednesday, October 21. Jio Platforms, the company behind Jio mobile, JioFiber and JioAirFiber, will sell new shares worth Rs 30,213 crore. The price of one share has been fixed between Rs 1,065 and Rs 1,119, and the IPO will stay open for three days, until Friday, October 23.
Big investors have already shown huge interest. On Monday, large funds placed bids worth more than Rs 2.5 lakh crore for shares worth just Rs 8,110 crore that were kept aside for them. Here is a simple explanation of the Jio IPO and the key things to know before applying.
What Is the Jio IPO?
An IPO, or initial public offering, is when a company sells its shares to the public for the first time. After the IPO, the shares get listed on the stock market, where anyone can buy and sell them.
Jio Platforms is owned mainly by Mukesh Ambani’s Reliance Industries. Until now, ordinary investors could not buy Jio shares directly. With this IPO, anyone with a demat account can apply for Jio shares for the first time.
Jio IPO: Key Details in Simple Words
| IPO opens | Wednesday, October 21 |
| IPO closes | Friday, October 23 |
| Price per share | Rs 1,065 to Rs 1,119 |
| Minimum shares to buy | 12 shares (one lot) |
| Minimum amount needed | Rs 13,428 |
| Maximum amount for small investors | About Rs 1.88 lakh (14 lots) |
| Result of share allotment | Monday, October 26 (expected) |
| Shares start trading | Wednesday, October 28 (expected) |
How Much Money Is Needed to Apply?
Shares in an IPO are sold in fixed bundles called lots. In the Jio IPO, one lot has 12 shares. At the top price of Rs 1,119 per share, one lot costs Rs 13,428, which is the minimum amount needed to apply.
Small investors, called retail investors, can apply for up to 14 lots, which comes to about Rs 1.88 lakh. Out of all the shares on offer to the public, 35% are kept aside only for these small investors.
Special Chance for Reliance Shareholders
People who held at least one share of Reliance Industries in their demat account on October 14 get an extra benefit. Shares worth Rs 2,500 crore have been set aside only for them. They can apply once in this special Reliance shareholder category and once more as a normal retail investor, which improves their chances of getting shares.
Buying Reliance shares now will not help, because only those who held the shares on October 14 qualify.
Why Is Everyone Talking About the Jio IPO?
There are three big reasons. First, Jio is India’s largest telecom company, with more than 53 crore mobile users. Second, it is one of the biggest IPOs ever seen in India, and the company will be worth around Rs 10.3 lakh crore after listing. Third, demand from big investors has broken records, with bids more than 30 times the shares kept for them.
Also Read: Best Stocks to Buy This Month
Read the full list of big investors in our report on the Jio IPO anchor book and record bids.
How Is Jio Doing as a Business?
Jio earned a total income of about Rs 1.5 lakh crore in the last financial year (FY26), and made a profit of around Rs 30,000 crore. Both its income and profit have been growing by around 15% every year. Jio will use most of the IPO money, Rs 27,500 crore, to pay off loans, which should reduce its interest costs and help profits grow further.
What Is the Jio IPO GMP?
GMP, or grey market premium, is an unofficial price at which some traders are buying and selling IPO shares before they list. The Jio IPO GMP is currently around Rs 250, which suggests the shares could open near Rs 1,370 on listing day. However, the GMP keeps changing and is not a guarantee. Shares can list higher or lower than this.
How to Apply for the Jio IPO
- Open a broker app such as Zerodha, Groww, Upstox or Angel One, or use net banking.
- Go to the IPO section and select Jio Platforms.
- Choose the category: Retail, or Shareholder for Reliance shareholders.
- Enter the number of lots and select the cut-off price.
- Enter the UPI ID and approve the payment request in the UPI app.
The money stays blocked in the bank account and is only taken if shares are allotted. If no shares are allotted, the money is released.
Things to Keep in Mind
- Applying does not guarantee shares. If demand is very high, many applicants may not get any.
- Share prices can go down as well as up after listing.
- Telecom companies face risks such as high spectrum costs, competition and changes in government rules.
Disclaimer: This article is for information only and is not investment advice. Investors should read the company’s offer document and consult a SEBI-registered financial adviser before applying.