Indian Firms Raise Over Rs 10 Lakh Crore Annually Through Equity, Debt: SEBI Chief

Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) Chairman Tuhin Kanta Pandey on Saturday said the regulator is working to make the country's capital markets more accessible, efficient and resilient, with a focus on capital formation, ease of doing business and investor protection.

Addressing the Bharat Chamber of Commerce Investors Forum here, Pandey said India's capital markets had expanded significantly over the past decade, with companies raising an average of more than Rs 10 lakh crore annually through equity and debt issuances.

He emphasised that investor protection remains as important as facilitating fundraising for businesses, adding that well-developed markets must withstand periods of financial stress as effectively as they function during normal conditions.

"Our approach has been to facilitate capital formation, improve ease of doing business, and strengthen investor protection," he said, noting that these objectives complement one another.

Highlighting regional participation, Pandey said the number of securities market investors in West Bengal had increased from around 12 lakh in 2015 to over 90 lakh currently. Approximately 36 per cent of these investors are below 30 years of age.

The state has 379 listed companies with registered offices in West Bengal, while more than 40 micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) have raised over Rs 1,400 crore through SME initial public offerings (IPOs).

To reduce compliance burdens and improve operational efficiency, SEBI has introduced several measures to simplify fundraising. These include streamlining IPO procedures, shortening rights issue timelines, rationalising listing requirements for large issuers and reducing the time taken to list public issues.

Pandey underscored that financial education and investor awareness are crucial safeguards, describing informed investors as the first line of defence.