How are Capital Markets Central to the 'Viksit Bharat' Initiative and What Opportunities Do Mutual Funds Hold?
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Capital markets are essential for achieving the 'Viksit Bharat' objective.
- SEBI is committed to enhancing the capital-raising process.
- Domestic capital has significant potential to be deployed.
- Mutual fund penetration is currently low, indicating growth opportunities.
- Regulatory reforms are underway to improve transparency and liquidity.
Mumbai, Nov 7 (NationPress) SEBI Chairperson Tuhin Kanta Pandey emphasized that India’s ongoing economic resilience will be primarily fueled by its capital markets, which are vital for the nation’s advancement towards the 'Viksit Bharat' vision and essential for capital formation.
Speaking at an event, Pandey remarked that capital markets play a pivotal role in fulfilling the country’s developmental goals, revealing that businesses have successfully raised around Rs 2 lakh crore from the primary market this year, reflecting strong investor confidence.
“There exists a substantial pool of domestic capital eager to be utilized,” Pandey stated, affirming that SEBI is dedicated to streamlining and accelerating the capital-raising procedures, thus allowing enterprises to secure funds more effectively.
“We act as facilitators of capital formation, and our objective is to assist companies in raising capital effortlessly to drive India’s growth and transformation,” the SEBI Chairperson noted.
He described the regulator's methodology as “optimum regulation”, which modifies guidelines without hindering innovation.
“We have implemented numerous regulatory adjustments and will persist with a consultative approach,” he mentioned.
Pandey underscored structural prospects, highlighting that mutual fund assets under management are below 25 percent of GDP, with urban involvement at about 15 percent and rural participation at 6 percent.
“There is immense potential for expanding mutual fund outreach,” Pandey said, indicating that 22 percent of non-investors who are aware of mutual funds intend to invest in the upcoming year.
The SEBI Chairman also disclosed that the regulator plans to conduct a thorough examination of short-selling and securities lending and borrowing standards to bring them in line with global benchmarks.
However, Pandey acknowledged that India’s securities lending market is currently underdeveloped compared to other markets, reiterating the commitment to reforms aimed at boosting transparency, liquidity, and investor-friendliness.