SEBI — Securities and Exchange Board of India: Complete 101 Guide
SEBI — Securities and Exchange Board of India: Complete 101 Guide Last updated: March 2026 What is SEBI? The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) is India’s capital markets regulator. Established in 1992, SEBI protects investor interests, promotes fair markets, and develops the securities market. Think of it as the “police and traffic cop” for India’s stock exchanges. Key Facts Founded: April 12, 1992 Headquarters: Mumbai, with regional offices Chairman: Madhabi Puri Buch (2026) Jurisdiction: India (primary), global oversight Mission: Protect investors, develop markets SEBI’s Mandate Primary Functions Function Description Protect Investors Ensure fair treatment, disclosure norms Regulate Markets Stock exchanges, depositories Develop Markets New products, investor education Prevent Fraud Insider trading, market manipulation Powers (Under SEBI Act) Issue securities regulations Register market intermediaries Conduct investigations Impose penalties Search & seizure SEBI Structure Governing Body 1 2 3 4 5 6 SEBI Board ├── Chairman (IAS/Expert) ├── 2 Members (Finance) ├── 1 Member (Law) ├── 3 Members (Market Experts) └── 1 Member (Public Interest) Departments Department Focus DIP Disclosure, issuance Enforcement Violations, penalties Intermediaries Broker registration Investor Grievance Complaints Research Market analysis Markets SEBI Regulates 1. Stock Exchanges Exchange Founded NSE/BSE BSE 1875 Mumbai NSE 1992 Mumbai MSEI 2008 Mumbai 2. Depositories CDSL - Central Depository Services NSDL - National Securities Depository 3. Market Intermediaries Stock Brokers Depository Participants Mutual Funds (via AMFI) Portfolio Managers Investment Advisors SEBI Regulations for Investors 1. Disclosure Norms Financial: Quarterly results, annual reports Corporate Actions: Dividends, bonuses, splits Material Events: Mergers, acquisitions, litigation Insider Trading: Trading window closures 2. Investor Protection KYC: Mandatory identity verification Risk Disclosure: Product suitability Grievance Redressal: SCORES platform Compensation Fund: Investor protection fund 3. Trading Rules T+1 Settlement: Next-day settlement Margin Trading: Regulated leverage Derivatives: Position limits Key SEBI Initiatives 1. Digital Transformation Initiative Purpose T+1 Settlement Faster trading settlement KYC Unified KYC for all markets e-Voting Digital shareholder voting SCORES Online grievance resolution 2. Market Development REITs: Real Estate Investment Trusts InvITs: Infrastructure Investment Trusts Social Stock Exchange: NGO funding Gold ETFs: Alternative investments 3. Retail Focus SIP in Mutual Funds: Systematic Investment Plans Direct Plans: Lower expense ratios Demat Accounts: Paperless account opening SEBI & Investor Types Retail Investors Protection: Insider trading laws Education: Investor awareness programs Grievances: SCORES resolution in 30 days Foreign Investors FPI Registration: Foreign Portfolio Investors Investment Limits: Sector-wise caps Reporting: Monthly disclosures Institutional Investors Regulatory Compliance: Stricter norms ** disclosures**: Ownership above 5% Trading Limits: Position monitoring SEBI Statistics (2026) Metric Value Listed Companies 5,000+ Demat Accounts 15+ crore Monthly Trading Volume ₹50+ lakh crore Mutual Fund SIP ₹25,000+ crore/month Investor Grievances Resolved 95%+ SEBI Regulatory Framework For Companies (Issuers) IPO Guidelines: Pricing, allocation Listing Requirements: Minimum public shareholding Corporate Governance: Board composition Takeover Code: Acquisition thresholds For Intermediaries Registration: Mandatory licensing Capital Adequacy: Financial soundness Conduct Rules: Business practices Audit: Regular compliance checks For Investors KYC: Identity verification Risk Assessment: Suitability checks Know Your Customer: PAN + Aadhaar Nomination: Beneficiary designation SEBI vs Global Regulators Feature SEBI SEC (USA) FCA (UK) Age 1992 1934 2000 Chairman Govt appointment Presidential Govt appointment Structure Board Commission Board Jurisdiction India USA UK + Global SEBI Grievance Redressal SCORES Platform Portal: scores.gov.in Process: Online complaint → Action → Resolution Timeline: 30 days maximum Status: Trackable Investor Protection Compensation Fund: Investor protection corpus Mediation: SEBI mediation cell ** Lok Adalat**: Securities settlement Recent SEBI Reforms (2025-2026) Market Reforms T+1 Settlement: Fully implemented Unified KYC: Single registration across markets Social Stock Exchange: For NGOs/charities Tokenization: Securities data protection Investor Reforms Credit Risk in Mutual Funds: Enhanced disclosure Fact Sheets: Standardized fund information Nomination: Mandatory for demat accounts Related Topics Learn More 101 RBI - Reserve Bank of India 101 UPI - Unified Payments Interface 101 NPCI - National Payments Corporation Consumer Rights Analysis Investor Protection SEBI mandates disclosure norms for listed companies Investor awareness programs run by SEBI Protective measures against market manipulation Privacy Implications Demat accounts linked to Aadhaar for KYC Trading history creates behavioral profile Algo trading data shared with regulatory authorities Data Protection Concerns Trading Data: SEBI collects detailed trading patterns Demat Records: Shareholding details stored digitally IPO Applications: Linked to bank accounts User Risks Fraud: Fake investment schemes, Ponzi schemes Market Volatility: No guarantee on returns Cyber Crimes: Trading account hacking Safeguards Verify scheme registration with SEBI Use official platforms only Enable two-factor authentication Monitor Demat statements regularly Complaints & Grievance Redressal SEBI SCORES: scores.gov.in (Online grievance) Stock Exchanges: NSE/BSE investor services Consumer Courts: For investment disputes Cyber Crime: For online fraud Conclusion SEBI plays a crucial role in maintaining investor confidence and market integrity. Its regulations protect your investments and ensure fair trading practices. Understanding SEBI helps you navigate India’s capital markets safely. ...