SEBI chairman focuses on investor protection and market resilience
Tuhin Kanta Pandey said the regulator aims to improve capital formation and ease of doing business.
Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) Chairman Tuhin Kanta Pandey said on Saturday that the regulator is working to ensure capital markets are more robust, efficient and easy to access. Speaking at the Bharat Chamber of Commerce Investors Forum in Kolkata, Pandey stated that the regulator's core approach involves strengthening investor safeguards, aiding capital formation and improving the ease of doing business, according to reports by The Economic Times and Free Press Journal.
Pandey noted that market capitalisation has seen strong growth over the last decade. He said companies have raised an average of more than Rs 10 lakh crore every year through debt and equity issuances.
Highlighting regional growth, the chairman said investor participation in West Bengal has grown from about 12 lakh in the 2015 financial year to more than 90 lakh currently. He added that approximately 36 per cent of these investors are under 30 years of age.
The chairman also mentioned that 379 listed companies have registered offices in West Bengal. Furthermore, over 40 MSMEs from the state have raised more than Rs 1,400 crore through SME IPOs.
To improve operational efficiency, SEBI has implemented measures such as streamlining IPO processes, shortening rights issue timelines and rationalising listing requirements for large issuers. Other steps include allowing certain employee stock options after listing and enabling debt securities with lower face values.
Pandey emphasised that financial education is vital, stating that an informed investor acts as the first line of defence. He said the true measure of market development is how effectively savings are connected to productive investments.