The Investor Education and Protection Fund Authority (IEPFA), under the Ministry of Corporate Affairs, Government of India, celebrated its 9th Foundation Day with a Round Table Conference in New Delhi on September 08, 2025. The theme of the conference was “Claiming the Unclaimed: Unlocking the Potential of Idle Financial Assets in India.”

The conference was graced by Chief Guest, Mr. Sanjeev Sanyal, Member of the Prime Minister’s Economic Advisory Council, who delivered the Keynote Address. Mr. Sanjeev Sanyal emphasized the critical need for innovative policy frameworks and inter-agency coordination to ensure that idle financial assets are productively deployed for national development. He appreciated the initiatives undertaken by IEPFA for significant process reforms.

Delivering the Inaugural Address, Ms. Anita Shah Akella, CEO, IEPFA & Joint Secretary, Ministry of Corporate Affairs, highlighted IEPFA’s initiatives to strengthen investor protection, simplify claim settlements, and spread financial literacy across India.

The Round Table Conference was moderated by Dr. C. S. Mohapatra, IEPF Chair Professor, NCAER, who underlined the importance of collaborative reforms to reduce claim timelines, improve transparency, and build greater investor confidence.

The sessions witnessed the participation of senior policymakers, regulators, and experts from diverse sectors. From the capital market and banking sector, the discussions featured Mr. Sunil Kadam, Executive Director, SEBI; Mr. Sunil Nair, Chief General Manager, RBI; and CS B. Narasimhan, Former President, ICSI. Representing insurance, pensions, and provident funds  were Ms. Sumeet Kaur Kapoor, Executive Director, PFRDA; and Mr. R. K. Nair, Former Member, IRDAI. The session on Paradigm Shift: Unlocking the Potential of Idle Assets and Efficient Service included insights from Mr. Dhirendra Kumar, Board Member, IEPFA & CEO, Value Research; Shri Sashi Krishnan, Director, NISM and Ms. Savithri Parekh, Company Secretary & Compliance Officer, Reliance Industries Ltd.

The Round Table concluded with a collective commitment from all stakeholders to unlock the potential of unclaimed assets, strengthen financial inclusion, and reinforce investor trust in the Indian financial ecosystem.

Speaking on the occasion, Ms. Anita Shah Akella, CEO, IEPFA & Joint Secretary, MCA, emphasised on the Authority’s journey towards becoming a trusted guardian of investor interests through reforms anchored in transparency, technology, and trust. She highlighted key initiatives including the Integrated Portal for Claims and Refunds, simplification of low-value claims, and financial literacy drives like Niveshak Didi and Niveshak Shivirs. Announcing the upcoming Niveshak Samadhan – Dial Your CEO programme, she outlined IEPFA’s Panchtattva vision to deliver faster refunds, adopt AI-driven solutions, and position IEPFA as a trust anchor of India’s financial system, reaffirming that its true impact is measured in lives touched.

About IEPFA

The Investor Education and Protection Fund Authority (IEPFA) was established on September 7, 2016, under the Ministry of Corporate Affairs, Government of India. IEPFA is responsible for managing the Investor Education and Protection Fund, which focuses on safeguarding investor interests by facilitating the refund of shares, unclaimed dividends, and matured deposits/debentures. Through its initiatives, the IEPFA aims to ensure transparency, protect investors' rights, and promote financial literacy across the country.

Find out more at: www.iepf.gov.in

Unclaimed Financial Assets: IEPFA advances reforms to streamline claims and unlock idle assets for financial inclusion. IEPFA advances coordinated reforms to streamline claim settlement and enhance recovery of unclaimed financial assets through an Integrated Portal for Claims and Refunds, simplification of low value claims, expedited refund processes, and adoption of AI and technology. The focus is on improving transparency, reducing claim timelines, strengthening investor protection, and promoting financial inclusion via inter agency coordination, outreach, and financial literacy initiatives.