Mumbai, Oct 8 (NationPress) The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) has seen a remarkable increase in investor participation, reaching 134 million over the last five years, attributed to its emphasis on digital transformation, including e-KYC, streamlined onboarding, and mobile-centric investment platforms, as stated by SEBI Chairman Tuhin Kanta Pandey during a panel at the Global Fintech Fest (GFF) 2025.

Pandey discussed various technology-driven initiatives, such as the Investor Risk Reduction Access Platform and the Unified Investor App, which have bolstered investor protection and enhanced market efficiency.

These advancements have provided consolidated access to holdings, transaction histories, e-voting, and proxy advisory recommendations. He noted, "Grievance resolutions have also been improved through the Digital Locker and a revamped SEBI Complaints Redressal System (SCORES)."

On the topic of market efficiency, Pandey mentioned India's shift to the T+1 settlement, a move that has drastically reduced the financial transaction settlement cycle, positioning India as one of the fastest globally. He further highlighted the expansion of Application Supported by Blocked Amount (ASBA) via UPI in secondary markets, ensuring more secure and smoother transactions.

"SEBI has alleviated compliance pressures while boosting transparency through enhanced use of advanced analytics and AI-based models to identify complex manipulation patterns and network fraud," he remarked.

Pandey stressed the critical nature of cybersecurity and operational resilience, underscoring the necessity for continuous adaptation and learning to address risks effectively.

He concluded that the future of India’s capital markets hinges on collaboration among regulators, market infrastructure entities, intermediaries, and fintech innovators. "The synergy between fintech innovation and regulatory insight will dictate not only the pace of our growth but also its safety," he added.

The discussion was moderated by Uday Kotak, Founder of Kotak Mahindra Bank, with other panelists including Tuang Lee Lim, Assistant Managing Director of the Monetary Authority of Singapore, and Dr. Marlene Amstad, Chairperson of the FINMA - Swiss Financial Market Supervisory Authority.