Market regulator aims to double the number of stock investors in the next 3 to 5 years, said SEBI chief Tuhin Kant Pandey
SEBI Chairman Tuhin Kant Pandey said on Monday that the market regulator is aiming to double the number of stock market investors in the next three to five years. He cited a recent survey conducted by the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI), which showed a growing interest in investing. According to the survey, more than 20 percent of respondents said they plan to invest in the securities market through some means.
When asked by Pandey what achievement he would be happy about in the next three to five years, he said, “We are trying to double the number of investors. If we add 100 million more investors, it will be more than the total population of many countries.” In India, the total number of unique investors is 12.2 crore as of October. But after the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, the investors have been randomly seen increasing.
At the CII Financing Summit, Pandey said that it is the responsibility of the capital market to bring good quality securities to the market, and after the investors trust it. India’s growth story is driven by high economic growth, government reforms, and ease of investment and business. Domestic investors will provide a strong shield to protect the market from potential shocks in the future, he said.
SEBI’s objective is to create a rulebook that is simple, risk-balanced, and encourages innovation. He also cited some statistics related to the growing maturity and public confidence in the market, Pandey said. According to him, equity capital crossed ₹2.5 lakh crore in FY 2025-26, while the corporate bond market reached ₹5.5 lakh crore in just seven months. This demonstrates that public markets are capable of meeting long-term financing needs effectively and reliably.
