With a view to discuss ways to expedite policies for growth and reforms in the stock market, theFinance Ministry has called a meeting of top officials fromSebi and various stock exchanges early next month.

Among other issues, the recent decline in stock market business volumes and the launch of some new products and segments for its future growth would be discussed at the meeting scheduled for August 6.

While implementation of the long-pending Bimal Jalan Committee report, which has suggested sweeping changes in the way stock exchanges are owned and run, is not on the agenda, the issue could still come up for the discussion, sources said.

Sources said the ministry has also asked Sebi and the stock exchanges to provide it with an update on the issues being faced in implementation of reforms for various segments of the market and the same would be discussed at the meeting.

The meeting has been called byThomas Matthew, Joint Secretary (Capital Markets), and is expected to be attended by the chiefs of the four stock exchanges -- theBSE,NSE, MCX-SX and USE -- as well as a representative from Sebi.

While Executive Director Ananta Barua is expected from the market regulator's side, BSE's Madhu Kannan, NSE's Ravi Narain, MCX-SX's Joseph Massey and USE's T S Narayansami have been called for the meeting.

The issues to be discussed at the meeting include the launch of SME platforms by the stock exchanges, growth trends and patterns in various market segments, the recent decline in cash segment volumes, algorithmic trading and listing of new products such as third-party warrants and foreign indices on the bourses.

In addition, the meeting could also discuss any other issue with the permission of the chair.

The meeting is being seen as part of an ongoing process at the ministry, under which it is reaching out to various segments of the economy through separate meetings. A meeting of the Finance Minister is already scheduled on August 1 with the top business leaders of the corporate world. (PTI)