India’s securities regulator, Sebi, is ramping up its digital initiatives by deploying AI-powered campaigns on WhatsApp and other channels to enhance investor protection, streamline processes, and prepare a comprehensive technology roadmap through 2026-27.
The Securities and Exchange Board of India is preparing a broader push to warn investors about scams and unsafe trading habits through an artificial intelligence-powered campaign on WhatsApp and other digital channels, according to its annual report. The regulator said the effort is meant to spread verified information on safe investing, common fraud tactics and grievance redressal routes in multiple languages.
The campaign is part of Sebi’s plans for 2026-27, as the watchdog places greater emphasis on easier business processes, deeper markets, investor protection and digital upgrades. Business Standard reported that the regulator also wants to overhaul its investor website with a better interface, stronger search tools and simpler access to key information.
Sebi is also looking at changes to nomination rules for demat accounts and mutual fund folios, which could make account opening and nominations less cumbersome. Alongside that, it is planning a Sebi Setu portal to give intermediaries a single point of access for regulatory information, registration steps and application tracking, while also exploring a common advertisement code, more uniform penalty frameworks for investment advisers and research analysts and standard procedures for transferring securities.
The regulator is already testing AI-led investor outreach in a more immediate form. NDTV Profit reported that Sebi has launched a pilot multilingual campaign with Sarvam, a generative AI company focused on Indian languages, to raise awareness about the Sebi Check tool and validated UPI handles. The tool, introduced on October 1, 2025, lets investors verify UPI IDs, QR codes and bank account details of Sebi-registered intermediaries before sending money. Sebi said awareness calls would come only from its authorised number, 1600-313-384.
Sebi is also setting up a working group to review how market infrastructure institutions adopt emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence, machine learning, distributed ledger technology, cloud computing, SupTech, RegTech, tokenisation and quantum-safe systems. The group will also prepare five-year and 10-year technology road maps, underscoring how quickly the regulator is trying to move from awareness campaigns to a wider digital overhaul.
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