SEBI Launches Investor Awareness Campaign in Chandigarh to Warn Against Fraud and Unverified Tips

Market regulator SEBI has launched a nationwide investor awareness campaign called Project Jagrook from Chandigarh, urging people to avoid anonymous tips and finfluencers. SEBI chairman Tuhin Kanta Pandey advised investors to use regulated channels and follow five basic habits. These habits include investing only in products they understand, starting early, staying invested for compounding, diversifying investments, and avoiding the mistake of treating fixed returns as risk-free.

Growth and Survey

Mutual fund assets have grown sharply from twelve lakh crore rupees in the 2015-16 period to around eighty-seven lakh crore rupees today, marking an average annual growth rate of about twenty-one percent over the past ten years. A recent SEBI survey found that only thirty-six percent of investors had high or moderate knowledge of the securities market. While sixty-three percent of households knew about at least one securities product, only about nine and a half percent actually participated in the market. The survey also revealed an urban-rural divide, with market participation at fifteen percent in urban areas compared to six percent in rural India. Fewer than one percent of surveyed people had attended an investor awareness programme, though ninety-one percent of attendees found them useful.

Leadership and Events

Other attendees at the launch hosted by the University Business School included SEBI whole-time members Sandip Pradhan and Kamlesh Chandra Varshney, along with AMFI chairman Sundeep Sikka, Panjab University Vice-Chancellor Prof. Meenakshi Goyal, and UBS Chairperson Prof. Meena Sharma. During the event, Sandip Pradhan highlighted Real Estate Investment Trusts and Infrastructure Investment Trusts as ways for retail investors to join the real estate sector. Prof. Meenakshi Goyal spoke about the university's focus on transforming knowledge into life skills.

Context

Project Jagrook aims to make investing simple by removing complex financial jargon and reaching people through regional languages and digital media. SEBI works to protect investors and regulate the securities market in India to ensure fair practices.