The oldest stock exchange in India, the BSE was established in 1875 as the Native Share and Stock Brokers Association at Dalal Street in Mumbai. A lot has changed since then when 318 persons became members upon paying Re 1.

In 1956, BSE obtained permanent recognition in 1956 from the government of India - the first stock exchange to do so - under the Securities Contracts (Regulation) Act, 1956.

On July 25, 1990, the Sensex for the first time breached the 1000 mark. Then on February 29, 1992, a day after Manmohan Singh presented his second Budget, the Sensex crossed the 2000 mark. On March 30 of the very same year it surged past the 3000 mark.

It was then that the Harshad Mehta scam hit the markets and Sensex witnessed unabated selling.

On September 12, 1994, the market peaked to a new high of 4646 for the first time after the scam. On October 11, 1999, the Sensex for the first time breached the 5000 mark and on February 11, 2000 it touched a record 6000 in intra-day trade.

(Dalal Street in uptown Mumbai houses the BSE buildling).