Mumbai, 17 September 2026: SEBI Chairman Shri Tuhin Kanta Pandey today, at a specialized Investor Awareness Program organised by the Association of Mutual Funds in India (AMFI) for the Army personnel at Leh, Ladakh, urged them to approach investing with the same discipline, preparedness and vigilance with which they serve the country. The program was attended by close to 500 Army personnel, including commissioned officers and jawans.
Due to the demanding nature of their duties, service members often have limited time to manage personal finances, making them increasingly vulnerable to unauthorized investment schemes, fraudulent digital trading platforms, cyber frauds, and misleading promises of assured returns.
Addressing the Army officers and personnel in Leh, the Chairman said investment decisions should be aligned with an investor’s financial needs, family responsibilities and risk-taking capacity, rather than driven merely by the prospect of higher returns.
He highlighted four key messages for investors:
- Invest responsibly: Diversify investments, understand the product and associated risks before investing, start early and invest regularly. Investors should deal only with registered intermediaries and regulated products.
- Stay vigilant against fraud: Investors should be cautious of promises of guaranteed or unusually high returns and verify investment apps and payment details before transferring money. The Chairman highlighted SEBI initiatives such as Validated UPI Handles, SEBI Check and the Verified App Label, which help investors verify intermediaries, payment mechanisms and investment apps.
- Keep families informed: Given the nature of Army service and long periods spent away from home, the Chairman emphasised the importance of keeping family members informed about investments. Investors should keep nominations, KYC, mobile, email and bank details updated and maintain a consolidated record of their investments.
- Use trusted sources: Investors should rely on official information, deal through regulated entities and use verified sources while making investment decisions. He also referred to Project Jagrook, SEBI’s nationwide investor-awareness initiative aimed at providing investor education through multiple modes and Indian languages.
The Chairman also advised investors to ensure that their spouse or nominee knows where investment-related records are maintained and whom to contact when assistance is required.
Summing up his message, the Chairman urged investors to follow five principles:
“Plan. Diversify. Verify. Nominate. Stay Invested.”
He said that just as preparedness and discipline are essential for protecting the nation, financial preparedness is important for securing one’s family.
“A little preparation today can take care of a much bigger responsibility tomorrow.”
Speaking at the event, Mr. Venkat N. Chalasani, Chief Executive, AMFI, said, “A Viksit Bharat is built on the active participation of every citizen in India’s growth story. While our armed forces personnel remain dedicated to protecting the nation’s borders, it is equally important that they have every opportunity to engage in and benefit from the country’s economic journey as we march toward 2047. Financial literacy is not just about investing; it is about risk management, goal-based planning, and protecting hard-earned savings from cyber threats and unauthorized financial schemes.”
Marking a major milestone in investor education, the event also saw the SEBI Chairman launch AMFI’s first-ever “Pocket Guide to Understanding Mutual Funds.” Designed as a simple, practical reference specifically tailored for first-time and prospective investors, the guide breaks down fundamental investment concepts, the benefits of disciplined investing, and key market safeguards into an easily portable handbook.
The event was also honoured by the presence of Major Gen Praveen Chabra, Vishist Seva Medal, GOC Sub Area and a large gathering of Army personnel underscoring the high priority military leadership places on safeguarding personnel against financial fraud and empowering them toward informed investing.
By equipping Armed Forces personnel with practical financial knowledge, SEBI and AMFI aim to extend their innate personal discipline into systematic, goal-based investing—empowering service members to preserve their hard-earned savings and build long-term financial resilience.
As part of the Leh itinerary, the SEBI Chairperson also visited the region’s AMC branch, operated by Nippon India Mutual Fund, and met with local investors to discuss their financial journey and experiences.
About AMFI:
AMFI was incorporated on August 22, 1995, as a non-profit organisation. As of now, all asset management companies that are registered with SEBI, are its members. The Association of Mutual Funds in India (AMFI) is dedicated to developing the Indian Mutual Fund Industry on professional, healthy, and ethical lines and to enhance and maintain standards in all areas with a view to protecting and promoting the interests of mutual funds and their unit holders. AMFI, the association of SEBI registered mutual funds in India of all the registered Asset Management Companies, was incorporated on August 22, 1995, as a non-profit organisation.
