The Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) announced on Friday that its key focus areas for the current financial year (FY25) include lowering the minimum investment requirements for mutual funds, speeding up the processing of rights issues, and encouraging greater innovation in the market. This was revealed in Sebi’s annual report for the financial year 2023-24 (FY24), which was made public on Friday.
“To promote more affordable systematic investment plans (SIPs) and ensure their long-term viability, Sebi and the Association of Mutual Funds in India (Amfi) are collaborating with industry stakeholders to reduce the overall costs associated with these products, aiming to boost financial inclusion,” the report stated.
Sebi has also established an advisory committee to focus on capital formation through Real Estate Investment Trusts (Reits), Infrastructure Investment Trusts (InvITs), and municipal bonds. Additionally, the regulator plans to review the current framework for rights issues to simplify disclosure requirements and shorten the timeline for processing.
In another significant initiative, Sebi is working on setting up a Data Benchmarking Institution (DBI), which will serve as a central repository of standardized and comparable data across various asset classes, helping investors make more informed decisions.
Other priorities include easing regulatory and compliance burdens, improving corporate governance, deepening the corporate bond market, and creating a framework to address malpractices by individuals using new-age technology to circumvent the law.
“We can’t predict how macroeconomic and microeconomic factors will affect investment behavior, opportunities, or companies. However, what we can and are committed to doing is ensuring that the securities market and its various components are future-ready, agile, and capable of adapting to whatever changes may come,” said Sebi chairperson Madhabi Puri Buch.
Table of Contents
What Is SEBI?
The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) is the regulatory authority overseeing securities and capital markets in India. Established in 1988 and empowered by the SEBI Act of 1992, SEBI’s main objectives are to protect investors, promote market development, and regulate market activities to ensure fairness, transparency, and efficiency.
Key Terms Related to SEBI:
1. Capital Market: This is the financial marketplace where long-term securities, such as stocks and bonds, are bought and sold. It includes the primary market, where new securities are issued, and the secondary market, where existing securities are traded.
2. Primary Market: Also known as the new issue market, this is where companies issue new securities to raise funds. Initial Public Offerings (IPOs) are a common example of transactions in the primary market.
3. Secondary Market: This is where previously issued securities are traded among investors. The Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) and National Stock Exchange (NSE) are key platforms in the secondary market.
4. Initial Public Offering (IPO): The process by which a private company offers its shares to the public for the first time. SEBI regulates IPOs to ensure transparency and protect investors.
5. Mutual Funds: Investment vehicles that pool money from multiple investors to invest in a diversified portfolio of securities. SEBI regulates mutual funds to ensure they operate transparently and in the best interest of investors.
6. Systematic Investment Plan (SIP): A method of investing in mutual funds by contributing a fixed amount regularly, such as monthly or quarterly. SIPs encourage disciplined investing and can help mitigate market volatility.
7. Rights Issue: A way for companies to raise additional capital by offering existing shareholders the chance to buy more shares, typically at a discount. SEBI oversees rights issues to protect shareholders’ interests.
8. Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs): Investment vehicles that allow individuals to invest in large-scale, income-generating real estate. SEBI regulates REITs to provide a structured way for investors to access real estate markets.
9. Infrastructure Investment Trusts (InvITs): Similar to REITs, InvITs allow investors to invest in infrastructure projects like roads and power transmission. SEBI regulates InvITs to ensure transparency and efficiency in managing these investments.
10. Corporate Governance: The system of rules, practices, and processes by which a company is directed and controlled. SEBI enforces corporate governance standards to ensure companies act in the best interests of their shareholders.
11. Market Manipulation: Activities that artificially inflate or deflate the price of securities to mislead investors. SEBI monitors and acts against market manipulation to maintain fair trading practices.
12. Insider Trading: The illegal practice of trading securities based on confidential information not available to the public. SEBI enforces strict regulations to prevent insider trading and ensure market integrity.
13. New Fund Offer (NFO): Similar to an IPO but for mutual funds, an NFO is the first time a mutual fund is offered to the public. SEBI regulates NFOs to ensure transparency and protect investors.
14. Compliance: Adherence to laws, regulations, and guidelines relevant to business operations. SEBI ensures that all market participants comply with regulations to maintain market integrity.
15. Data Benchmarking Institution (DBI): A proposed central repository SEBI plans to create, which will hold standardized and comparable data across various asset classes, helping investors make informed decisions.