Regulation

SEBI (Securities and Exchange Board of India)

India's stock market regulator — it makes and enforces the rules for exchanges, brokers, and listed companies, but never trades or sets prices itself.

SEBI (Securities and Exchange Board of India) is the statutory regulatory body that oversees India’s entire securities market, established in 1988 and given full statutory powers in 1992. It regulates stock exchanges, stockbrokers, depositories, mutual funds, investment advisers, and listed companies.

What SEBI Does

  • Registers and licenses brokers, exchanges, and other market intermediaries
  • Enforces investor protection rules, including grievance redressal (SCORES)
  • Regulates IPOs, disclosures, and insider trading
  • Oversees derivatives and algorithmic trading rules

What SEBI Does Not Do

SEBI does not buy or sell shares, does not manage anyone’s personal portfolio, and does not guarantee investment returns or protect against market losses — it only ensures the system operates fairly and transparently.

Read the full breakdown of SEBI’s role alongside NSE and BSE in How the Indian Stock Market Works: NSE, BSE, and SEBI Explained.