New Delhi [India], March 25 (ANI): Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) Chairman Tuhin Kanta Pandey on Wednesday launched the Verified App Label Initiative to strengthen investor protection against the rising threat of fraudulent mobile applications.
Addressing the launch, Pandey said, “I’m delighted to be here at the launch of the Verified App Label Initiative, a simple but important investor protection measure. This initiative is not just about a label on an app—it’s about trust and safety. It’s about helping investors distinguish the genuine from the fake. India’s securities market is witnessing wider participation than ever before.”
The initiative introduces a visual badge for SEBI-registered intermediaries on the Google Play Store, enabling users to identify authentic platforms and avoid impersonators. Pandey noted that the regulator is prioritizing the safety of a rapidly expanding investor base, which now exceeds 140 million unique participants.
He added that India’s securities market currently holds a market capitalization of nearly Rs 423 trillion, reflecting strong growth in investor confidence.
“Today, we have more than 140 million unique investors in the securities market, with market capitalization close to Rs 423 trillion. These numbers reflect growing trust in markets,” he said.
However, he cautioned that increased participation also brings greater responsibility, particularly in protecting first-time investors, as market access has largely shifted to mobile devices.
“Today, for many investors, the market begins on a screen. It begins with an app. But where access becomes digital, so does risk,” he said.
Pandey warned that fake apps pose a serious threat and can cause significant financial harm, along with eroding investor confidence.
To mitigate these risks, the verified badge has already been rolled out for more than 600 apps belonging to SEBI-registered stockbrokers. He emphasized that the initiative reinforces a key principle for investors: “Pehle pehchan karen, phir nivesh karen—first verify, then invest.”
He added that SEBI plans to extend the badge to other registered intermediaries, including online bond platform providers and registered investment advisors, to ensure consistent safety standards across the digital ecosystem.
The initiative builds on existing SEBI measures, including validated UPI handles and a whitelist of stockbrokers’ mobile applications maintained by exchanges.
Pandey said, “More than 130,000 such content pieces have been escalated to platforms for takedown. Around 66 cases of fake trading apps have been escalated to app stores, which have been removed.”
“An API-based framework is in place to ensure that only verified registered intermediaries can run advertisements on Google and Meta,” he added, stressing that regulators, intermediaries, and technology companies must work together, as investor protection is a shared responsibility.
While describing the Google Play Store badge as a landmark initiative, Pandey acknowledged ongoing challenges such as side-loading and unofficial links, which continue to pose risks.
He urged investors to use tools such as SebiCheck and the Saarthi app to verify credentials before making financial commitments.
“For our growth story to remain strong, trust must remain at the center. Safer technology builds trust,” Pandey said, adding that in a digital world, such measures can make the difference between safe investing and significant financial harm. (ANI)
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