The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) made significant strides in empowering retail investors by launching India's first website dedicated to passive funds at the National Stock Exchange (NSE). Alongside this, SEBI unveiled a detailed report on the Indian Capital Markets, showcasing major reforms, milestones, and innovations.
The newly launched website serves as a comprehensive platform for retail investors, providing them with easy access to detailed information about the Indian passive funds industry. It offers in-depth data on aggregate industry metrics, individual fund statistics, and screeners that allow investors to select funds based on various parameters such as underlying index, assets under management (AUM), tracking error, tracking difference, trading volume, total expense ratio (TER), and more. The platform aims to facilitate informed decision-making and enhance the understanding of passive investment options among retail investors.
SEBI Chairperson Madhabi Puri Buch highlighted the significance of the website and the comprehensive report, stating, "The transformation and growth of our Capital Markets is due to a collective vision to create a resilient, progressive, and technology-driven ecosystem that provides access, information, and control to the Indian investor community while ensuring guardrails for protection".
The report on Indian Capital Markets delves into significant reforms, key milestones, and technological advancements that have shaped the market. It covers innovations, some of which are global firsts, and findings from a retail investor survey conducted across 12 cities in India. The report also provides a nuanced analysis of the benefits these changes bring to investors, emphasizing the role of Market Infrastructure Institutions (MIIs) and market participants in this evolution.
Ashish Kumar Chauhan, MD and CEO of NSE, praised the report, noting, "The MIIs and several other market participants have adopted and implemented SEBI’s initiatives with speed and technological agility to make this transformation successful. We thank our regulator, investors, MIIs, and all stakeholders for their participation and collaboration in this journey".
Buch stressed the importance of fostering a culture of innovation, collaboration, and feedback among MIIs and market intermediaries to continually review regulations and address emerging risks promptly. This collective effort aims to maintain the momentum of growth and innovation in India’s Capital Markets, ensuring robust protection and opportunities for all investors.