India’s market regulator will step up efforts to simplify regulations, deepen technology-led supervision and support capital formation as domestic markets expand in scale and complexity, Tuhin Kanta Pandey said on Friday.
Speaking at the 38th foundation day of Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI), Pandey outlined a forward agenda centred on easing compliance, strengthening governance and aligning innovation with investor protection.
“We will accelerate our drive to simplify and rationalise regulations for ease of doing business… and continue to invest in technology-led supervision,” he said. The event was attended by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman.
Indian markets have grown sharply in both size and participation, with over 5,900 listed companies and more than 140 million investors, Pandey aaid. Market capitalisation has expanded at about 15 per cent annually over the past decade, while mutual fund assets have grown over 20 per cent a year.
“The deeper shift is in participation,” he said, adding the entry of a younger, digitally connected investor base and increasing global linkages. This expansion, he said, brings new risks. “Innovation must not outpace safeguards; access must not dilute awareness; and growth must remain sustainable.”
Over the past year, SEBI has worked on easing regulatory friction and improving clarity through stakeholder consultations. “These reforms are not isolated steps… they are part of a continuous effort to build trust, efficiency and innovation into the market,” Pandey said.
New systems such as digital communication platforms and an e-adjudication mechanism, alongside increased use of data analytics, AI tools and real-time monitoring, he said.