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Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI)
In an address at Outlook Money’s ‘40After40’ event, SEBI Chairman Shri Tuhin Kanta Pandey emphasized that trust is the foundation of India’s securities market, which now serves a rapidly expanding retail investor base of approximately 14 crores . To protect these investors from mis-selling, scams, and unverified social media “tips,” SEBI is embedding trust directly into the market structure through enhanced disclosure, asset protection, and streamlined redressal systems. The “Way Ahead” involves a relentless effort to combat cyber fraud through technology, such as the SEBI Check facility and white-listed broker applications. Furthermore, SEBI is working to deepen the equities market and make corporate bonds and hybrid securities more accessible to retail investors, ensuring diversified wealth creation options beyond traditional avenues.
Four Pillars of the Way Ahead for Investor Trust
Protection of Investor Assets: Implementing the SEBI Check for verified payments and mandating a unique “@valid” identifier for UPI handles of registered intermediaries.
Ease of Access & Information: Strengthening standardized disclosures in IPO documents and providing performance verification through the PaRRVA initiative.
Inclusive Investor Literacy: Scaling awareness campaigns in regional languages and multiple formats to move the new generation of investors from mere awareness to “actionable knowledge”.
Market Depth & Accessibility: Diversifying investment options by making corporate bonds and hybrid securities more accessible to retail retail segments.
Responsive Grievance Redressal: Revamping the SCORES 2.0 system and leveraging the SMART ODR platform to resolve disputes outside of courtrooms with speed and transparency.
What is the “SMART ODR” Platform? SMART ODR (Securities Market Approach for Resolution Through Online Dispute Resolution) is a technology-driven system launched by SEBI to resolve disputes between investors and market intermediaries without the need for traditional court proceedings. Designed for convenience and speed, it provides a transparent resolution process that has already resolved approximately 8,900 disputes worth ₹670 crores since August 2023. It serves as a vital trust-building tool by ensuring that retail investors have access to a reliable, time-bound mechanism for protecting their financial interests in the securities market.
Policy Relevance
For India, SEBI’s approach represents a transition from “Awareness-Based Growth” to “Knowledge-Driven Security,” essential for maintaining the integrity of the world’s most inclusive retail investment landscape.
Standardizing Digital Safety: The introduction of the SEBI Check and “@valid” UPI identifiers creates a verifiable safety protocol that prevents investors from falling for cloned apps and QR code scams.
Bypassing Traditional Asset Reliance: Making corporate bonds and hybrid securities accessible to retail investors allows India to bypass the over-concentration of household wealth in real estate and gold, driving capital into productive sectors.
Bypassing Capital Barriers: Reducing the minimum investment threshold in privately placed corporate bonds to ₹10,000 allows retail investors to bypass high entry costs and participate in sophisticated debt markets.
Operationalizing Retirement Security: The upcoming availability of Systematic Withdrawal Plans (SWP) for units held in demat form directly supports the creation of sustainable retirement corpuses for the ‘40After40’ demographic.
Federal Language Inclusivity: Utilizing regional languages in national outreach ensures that the 14-crore investor base is not just concentrated in metros but expanded responsibly across Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities.
Implementation Fidelity via SCORES 2.0: Revamping the grievance system to include two levels of review ensures that investor protection is backed by a credible, multi-tiered accountability framework.
Relevant Question for Policy Stakeholders: How can SEBI utilize regional language multi-media campaigns to educate vulnerable groups, especially senior citizens, about the SMART ODR facility?
Follow the full update here: SEBI: Building Trust in Indian Capital Markets - February 20, 2026