Unlocking India’s Idle Financial Assets: Key Insights from IEPFA’s 9th Foundation Day
In a push to boost India’s economic growth, experts are calling for smart policies and better teamwork among government agencies to put unused financial assets to work. Sanjeev Sanyal, a key member of the Prime Minister’s Economic Advisory Council (EAC), shared these thoughts during the Investor Education and Protection Fund Authority’s (IEPFA) 9th Foundation Day event in New Delhi on September 9.
Sanyal praised IEPFA’s efforts in streamlining processes to make investor protection stronger. The event’s theme, "Claiming the Unclaimed: Unlocking the Potential of Idle Financial Assets in India," spotlighted how these dormant funds could fuel national development if handled right.
IEPFA CEO Anita Shah Akella, who also serves as Joint Secretary in the Ministry of Corporate Affairs, talked about the authority’s big strides in safeguarding investors. She focused on making claim settlements easier, boosting financial literacy nationwide, and building trust through transparency and tech. Key highlights included the launch of an Integrated Portal for Claims and Refunds, simpler rules for low-value claims, and fun initiatives like Niveshak Didi and Niveshak Shivirs to educate people on money matters.
Akella announced the upcoming Niveshak Samadhan–Dial Your CEO programme, which lets investors connect directly with leaders for quick help. She also revealed IEPFA’s Panchtattva vision—a five-pillar plan to speed up refunds, use AI-driven tools, and make IEPFA the go-to trust anchor in India’s financial system. "Our real success shows in the lives we touch," she added, emphasizing investor protection and financial inclusion.
Dr. C.S. Mohapatra, Chair Professor at NCAER and IEPFA Chair, stressed the need for joint efforts to cut down claim processing times, ramp up transparency, and build investor confidence. The roundtable brought together senior policymakers, regulators, and experts from various fields, all agreeing to tap into unclaimed assets for stronger financial inclusion and trust in India’s economy.
Set up on September 7, 2016, under the Ministry of Corporate Affairs, IEPFA manages the Investor Education and Protection Fund. It helps investors get back shares, unclaimed dividends, and matured deposits or debentures, ensuring no one’s money sits idle.
This event marks a step forward in turning idle financial assets into real growth drivers for India, with IEPFA leading the charge on investor education and protection.
