The article focuses on recent steps taken by the Sebi for protecting the interests of small investors, based on the NL Mitra Committee recommendations.

With the Indian economy chugging ahead with a growth rate of over 9%, the sensex cannot fall far behind. In fact, in the last several months, the Indian securities market has shown a steady upward movement largely fuelled by inflows brought by Foreign Institutional Investors (FIIs).

When the securities market index goes up steadily and sometimes rapidly, there is always a possibility that the same may fall down sometimes with a thud. In such a situation, the average retail investor becomes the major victim and he may lose huge amounts.

If we look at the Indian securities market, on a number of occasions, due to misdeeds of some market players and probable manipulations by unscrupulous elements, the market has brought severe losses for the retail investors. In fact, over the years a large number of unscrupulous entities (including vanishing companies) have defrauded the investors. Many such companies reappeared sometimes with changed addresses and names to harm other investors. Keeping in mind the need for a healthy market and the interest of the retail investors, the government and the securities market regulator i.e., Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) have taken several steps in recent years to protect the interest of the retail investors and come out with suitable recommendations and regulations to achieve the goal. The subject of investor protection has also occupied an important position in the report submitted by another committee, headed by JJ Irani.

Securities Market, Indian economy Securities and Exchange Board of India, Sebi, Foreign Institutional Investors, FIIs,Initial Public Offerings, IPOs, stakeholders, Qualified Institutional Buyers, QIBs, Corporate governance, Kumaramangalam Birla, Birla Group, Naryana Murthy, Infosys, Education and Protection Fund , IEPF.