IEPFA signs MoU with Prasar Bharati to widen investor awareness reach
Synopsis
IEPFA is taking investor awareness to Doordarshan's national and regional channels through a new MoU with Prasar Bharati — a move that could reach millions of rural and first-time investors who remain unaware of unclaimed dividends and fraud risks. With India's retail investor base at record levels, the mass-media push signals a shift from digital-only outreach to a broader, more inclusive strategy.
Key Takeaways
IEPFA and Prasar Bharati signed an MoU on 13 May 2025 to broadcast investor awareness content on Doordarshan .
Scroll messages will run across Doordarshan's national and regional channels covering investor protection, unclaimed dividends, and safe investing.
Anita Shah Akella , CEO IEPFA, highlighted the importance of reaching remote and underserved regions through trusted public broadcasting.
Investors will be directed to use the Search Facility and file claims via Form IEPF-5 to reclaim unclaimed dividends and shares.
IEPFA has managed the Investor Education and Protection Fund since 2016 , facilitating refunds of shares, dividends, and matured deposits.
The Investor Education and Protection Fund Authority (IEPFA), operating under the Ministry of Corporate Affairs, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with public broadcaster Prasar Bharati on 13 May 2025 to scale up nationwide investor awareness campaigns, according to an official statement. The partnership will use Doordarshan's national and regional channels to disseminate informative scroll messages on investor protection and financial literacy.
What the Partnership Covers
Anita Shah Akella, CEO of IEPFA and Joint Secretary, Ministry of Corporate Affairs, underscored the value of collaborative public outreach in building investor awareness. She noted that trusted platforms like Doordarshan can carry critical information on investor protection, unclaimed dividends and shares, and safe investing practices to audiences in remote and underserved regions — segments that are often beyond the reach of digital campaigns.
The MoU specifically targets awareness around the process of reclaiming unclaimed dividends and shares transferred to the IEPFA. Investors will be guided to use the Search Facility and file claims through Form IEPF-5, the official statement noted.
Focus on Fraud Prevention and Safe Investing
Beyond reclaiming assets, the campaign will spotlight fraud prevention and the importance of safe investing practices. Officials said the Doordarshan platform's wide geographic footprint makes it particularly suited to reaching first-time and rural investors who may be vulnerable to financial fraud.
This is consistent with IEPFA's broader mandate since its establishment in 2016 — managing the Investor Education and Protection Fund to facilitate refunds of shares, unclaimed dividends, and matured deposits or debentures, while promoting transparency and investors' rights.
Recent IEPFA Initiatives
The MoU builds on a national drive IEPFA recently launched to empower shareholders by raising awareness about unclaimed dividends held by companies. That drive also guides investors through updating their KYC and nomination details to reclaim rightful dividends — a process that remains unfamiliar to a large section of retail investors.
This comes amid a broader push by the Centre to deepen financial literacy as India's retail investor base continues to expand rapidly. The Prasar Bharati collaboration adds a mass-media dimension to IEPFA's existing digital outreach tools.
What Comes Next
Scroll messages on investor awareness are expected to begin airing across Doordarshan's national and regional channels as part of the rollout. The IEPFA has indicated it will continue to pursue partnerships with public institutions to extend its outreach. How effectively the campaign converts awareness into actual claims filed through Form IEPF-5 will be the key metric to watch.
Point of View
Suggesting awareness alone is not the bottleneck. The campaign needs a measurable follow-through mechanism, not just broadcast impressions, to justify the partnership's promise.
NationPress
10 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the IEPFA-Prasar Bharati MoU about?
The MoU, signed on 13 May 2025, enables IEPFA to broadcast investor awareness messages — covering unclaimed dividends, fraud prevention, and safe investing — through Doordarshan's national and regional channels. It aims to reach investors in remote and underserved regions who may not access digital platforms.
How can investors reclaim unclaimed dividends under this initiative?
Investors are directed to use IEPFA's Search Facility to check for unclaimed dividends or shares and then file a claim using Form IEPF-5. The Doordarshan campaign will guide viewers through this process and also encourage KYC and nomination updates.
What is IEPFA and when was it established?
The Investor Education and Protection Fund Authority (IEPFA) was established in 2016 under the Ministry of Corporate Affairs. It manages the Investor Education and Protection Fund, facilitating refunds of unclaimed shares, dividends, and matured deposits or debentures while promoting financial literacy.
Why is Doordarshan being used for this campaign?
Doordarshan's extensive reach across national and regional channels makes it one of the few platforms that can deliver financial literacy content to rural and underserved communities. IEPFA CEO Anita Shah Akella noted that trusted public broadcasters can carry critical investor protection information where digital campaigns cannot.
What other recent steps has IEPFA taken on investor awareness?
Prior to this MoU, IEPFA launched a national drive to create awareness about unclaimed dividends held by companies and guide shareholders on updating KYC and nomination details to reclaim their rightful dividends.
