Sebi’s investor protection fund balloons but spending lags amid rising fraud risks

What happened: Sebi's Investor Protection and Education Fund has grown almost four-fold to ₹969.8 crore in FY26 from FY23, while spending rose just 2.2% to ₹4.7 crore, or 0.4% of the corpus. Key numbers: IPEF corpus ₹969.8 crore in FY26, up almost four-fold from FY23. Expenditure ₹4.7 crore, up 2.2%. FY26 spend was 0.4% of corpus. Why it matters: The gap has reached the government, with inter-ministerial memos seeking a strategy and PM Modi citing digital frauds and investor protection in his 22 February Mann Ki Baat broadcast. Officials say no decision has been made.

Sebi's Investor Protection and Education Fund has grown almost four-fold to ₹969.8 crore in FY26 from FY23, while spending rose just 2.2% to ₹4.7 crore, or 0.4% of the corpus.

The gap has reached the government, with inter-ministerial memos seeking a strategy and PM Modi citing digital frauds and investor protection in his 22 February Mann Ki Baat broadcast. Officials say no decision has been made.