Sarthi: SEBI’s Trusted Guide for Smarter Investing

The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) has been actively promoting its investor education ecosystem through two integrated platforms: the SEBI Inv...

What Happened

The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) has been actively promoting its investor education ecosystem through two integrated platforms: the SEBI Investor website (investor.sebi.gov.in) and the Saarthi mobile application.
Saarthi 2.0, the upgraded version of the original app, was launched in 2024 with a redesigned interface specifically targeting young and first-time investors.
In January 2025, SEBI issued a press release highlighting the expanded free tools and resources available across both platforms, reinforcing its mandate for investor protection and financial literacy.
The platform is part of SEBI's broader Investor Education and Protection Fund (IEPF) obligations and its strategic goal of deepening capital market participation across India.

Static Topic Bridges

Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) — Regulatory Framework

SEBI was established as a statutory body under the SEBI Act, 1992 (replacing the earlier non-statutory SEBI set up in 1988). It operates under the Ministry of Finance and is headquartered in Mumbai. SEBI's tripartite mandate is: (1) protecting investor interests, (2) promoting the development of the securities market, and (3) regulating the securities market.

Established as a statutory body: April 12, 1992
Parent legislation: SEBI Act, 1992
Headquarters: Mumbai (Bandra Kurla Complex)
Governing Board: Chairman + up to 9 members (mix of whole-time and part-time)
Powers include quasi-legislative (making regulations), quasi-executive (inspections, investigations), and quasi-judicial (adjudication of disputes) functions

Connection to this news: Saarthi is a direct expression of SEBI's investor protection mandate under the SEBI Act — translating regulatory intent into accessible digital tools for retail investors.

Investor Education and Protection Fund (IEPF)

The Investor Education and Protection Fund was established under Section 125 of the Companies Act, 2013 (earlier under Section 205C of the Companies Act, 1956). IEPF receives unclaimed dividends, matured deposits, and debentures that companies transfer after 7 years of non-claim. The fund is used for investor education, awareness, and protection initiatives.

Governing authority: IEPF Authority (under Ministry of Corporate Affairs)
Note: SEBI separately funds its investor education activities from regulatory fees; the two bodies coordinate on financial literacy

Connection to this news: SEBI's investor education platforms like Saarthi complement the IEPF's mandate, creating a coordinated national ecosystem for investor awareness.

SCORES — SEBI Complaint Redress System

SCORES (SEBI Complaint Redress System) is SEBI's online platform for investor grievance filing and tracking. Investors can file complaints against listed companies, brokers, and other SEBI-registered intermediaries. SEBI has also integrated an Online Dispute Resolution (ODR) mechanism for faster resolution of securities-related disputes, accessible through the Saarthi app.

SCORES portal: scores.sebi.gov.in
ODR launched: 2023 (for securities market disputes)
Saarthi app provides in-app links to both SCORES and ODR

Connection to this news: Saarthi's inclusion of grievance redressal tools transforms it from a mere education app into a comprehensive investor services platform — aligning with SEBI's goal of seamless investor protection.

Financial Literacy and Capital Market Deepening

India's household savings remain disproportionately concentrated in physical assets (real estate, gold) and bank deposits. The National Strategy for Financial Education (NSFE) 2020–2025, coordinated by the National Centre for Financial Education (NCFE) under RBI, SEBI, IRDAI, and PFRDA, targets increasing retail participation in capital markets. SEBI's investor education initiatives directly support the goal of moving household savings toward productive financial assets.

NCFE established: 2013 under all four financial sector regulators
NSFE 2020–2025: 5-year roadmap for financial inclusion and literacy
India's demat account count crossed 15 crore by 2024, up from ~3.5 crore in 2019

Connection to this news: Saarthi's free tools — 24 financial calculators, Spot-a-Scam module, financial health checkup, and market intermediary verification — directly address the knowledge gaps that deter retail investor participation.

Key Facts & Data

Saarthi app launched: Original version released by SEBI; Saarthi 2.0 (redesigned) launched June 2024
January 2025: SEBI press release formally announced expanded tools on both investor.sebi.gov.in and Saarthi app
24 financial calculators available on SEBI investor portal (SIP, returns, loan EMI, etc.)
Key features of Saarthi: KYC module, mutual funds education, ETF basics, stock exchange operations, grievance redressal guide, ODR platform access, Spot-a-Scam tool, financial health checkup
Regulatory basis for investor education: SEBI Act, 1992 — Section 11(2)(g) empowers SEBI to educate investors
SCORES platform: handles ~1 lakh+ complaints per year; resolution timeline monitored by SEBI
SEBI's Investor Education and Protection Fund (managed separately from MCA's IEPF): funded through regulatory fees collected from market intermediaries
India had over 15 crore demat accounts as of 2024, reflecting rapid capital market democratization