Speaking at the launch, Sebi Chairman Tuhin Kanta Pandey said the initiative goes beyond a simple visual marker and is designed to reinforce trust and safety in an increasingly digital investment ecosystem.
“This initiative is not just about a label on an app; it is about helping investors distinguish the genuine from the fake,” Pandey said, underlining the regulator’s focus on preventing fraud before it occurs.
Rising participation, rising risks
India’s securities market has seen an unprecedented surge in retail participation, with over 140 million unique investors and a market capitalisation of nearly Rs 423 trillion, Pandey said, adding this reflected growing confidence in financial markets.
Pandey cautioned that the next wave of first-time investors will also bring heightened risks.
“As market access becomes digital, so do the threats. Fake apps have emerged as a serious concern, often leading to irreversible financial losses and erosion of investor trust,” he said.Pandey highlighted how fraudsters typically lure investors with promises of assured returns and push them to download apps that closely mimic those of Sebi-registered intermediaries. By the time doubts arise, investors often end up losing their money, he said.
How the Verified App Label works
Under the new initiative, apps of Sebi-registered intermediaries will carry a verified badge on the Google Play Store, enabling investors to easily identify authentic platforms.
The initiative has been rolled out in collaboration with Google, marking what Sebi described as a first-of-its-kind effort globally.
“This visual cue reinforces a simple message—first verify, then invest,” Pandey said, adding that the regulator expects other platforms to adopt similar measures going forward.
The Verified App Label is part of a broader framework put in place by Sebi to tackle investment fraud. The regulator has already introduced tools such as SebiCheck and validated UPI handles to help investors verify intermediaries before making payments.
Sebi has escalated over 1.3 lakh instances of misleading investment-related content for takedown while flagging 66 fake trading apps, which have since been removed from app stores. It has also implemented an API-based framework to ensure only verified intermediaries can run advertisements.
Despite these efforts, Pandey acknowledged that challenges remain, particularly in tackling apps distributed through unofficial links—a growing concern in digital fraud.
He urged investors to remain vigilant and rely only on verified channels, adding: “First identify, then invest.”
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