SEBI Launches Project Jagrook from Panjab University to Promote Investor Awareness Among Students

Chandigarh, October 5, 2026: As part of a national initiative aimed at promoting financial literacy, investor awareness and informed participation in the securities market among young Indians, the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) today launched Project Jagrook and inaugurated World Investor Week 2026 from Panjab University, Chandigarh.
SEBI Chairman Tuhin Kanta Pandey, an alumnus of Panjab University, Sandip Pradhan, Whole-Time Member, SEBI; Kamlesh Chandra Varshney, Whole-Time Member, SEBI; Sundeep Sikka, Chairman, Association of Mutual Funds in India (AMFI); and PU Vice Chancellor Prof. Meenakshi Goyal joined senior representatives of SEBI, NSE, BSE, NSDL, CDSL, MCX, AMFI and NISM and academia at the Pan-India launch hosted by the University Business School (UBS).
Project Jagrook represents SEBI's comprehensive initiative to transform student engagement with India's capital markets. The project emphasises financial literacy, investor protection, and the development of informed and responsible market participants.
In his keynote address, Tuhin Kanta Pandey, Chairman, SEBI, distinguished alumnus of Panjab University, highlighted the importance of raising awareness among young investors entering the market. "The success of Project Jagrook will not be measured by the number of people who view it, but by the number of informed investors it creates", he added. He emphasised the mission's aim to make investing simple and understandable, stripping away complex financial jargon. The campaign's slogan, “Samajh se Investing Simple” (Investing Made Simple Through Understanding), encapsulates this objective of creating samajhdar investors—individuals who thoroughly understand the products they invest in. He further highlighted the MUST (Mentoring of University/College Students through Trainers) programme as an essential component of this awareness initiative.
Sandip Pradhan, Whole-Time Member of SEBI, addressed the launch of SEBI's regional office in Chandigarh, emphasising Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) and Infrastructure Investment Trusts (InvITs) as significant opportunities for retail investors to participate in the real estate sector. He highlighted the dramatic growth in India's bond market, driven by increased investor participation and the transformative role of green bonds. Mr Pradhan also discussed how the investor landscape has evolved over the years, positioning India as an emerging global financial hub that continues to attract Foreign Institutional Investors (FIIs) from around the world.
Sundeep Sikka, Chairman, AMFI and MD & CEO of Nippon Life India Asset Management, emphasised the importance of continuous learning. He advocated that individuals must remain students throughout their lives, extending knowledge acquisition beyond formal education through life experiences, mentorship, and training programmes. Sikka commended SEBI's efforts to create young, aware investors and appreciated the “MUST” programme for educating college and university students about knowledge-based investing.
PU Vice Chancellor Prof. Meenakshi Goyal emphasised the university's commitment to academic excellence and interdisciplinary collaboration. She outlined the university's dedication to transforming knowledge into life skills beyond the classroom.
Highlighting the role of University, Prof. Goyal stated, "Panjab University is not only where ideas are generated but also where they are discussed, debated, challenged, and questioned." She emphasised the critical importance of relying on verifiable information while investing and cautioned against falling prey to finfluencers and financial cyber fraud. Appreciating SEBI's multi-modal, multilingual approach to investor awareness, Prof. Goyal highlighted how campaigns like Project Jagrook reach investors irrespective of their educational background or preferred language of learning.
Earlier, welcoming the guests, UBS Chairperson Prof. Meena Sharma articulated a vision of replacing the "darkness of ignorant investing and unsolicited advice" with the "light of awareness and knowledge about suitable investment vehicles." She emphasised the necessity of collaboration between educational and financial institutions to dispel this darkness of ignorance.
A significant milestone was achieved with the formal exchange of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between University Business School, Panjab University and Association of Mutual Funds in India (AMFI). The agreement includes launching NISM certificate programmes, developing faculty capacity in financial education, and expanding student internship and research opportunities. This partnership represents a meaningful step towards bridging academia and industry in financial services.
The event featured the Nivesh Mela, an interactive educational exhibition providing students with hands-on exposure to financial concepts, and a curated Art Gallery showcasing creative interpretations of financial literacy. These activities complemented the formal proceedings and enhanced student engagement.
The event was supported by the dedicated efforts of the University Business School organising team—Prof. Tejinder Pal Singh, Prof. Rupinder Bir Kaur, Dr Tilak Raj, Dr Pooja Soni, and student coordinators—as well as officials from SEBI, AMFI, NSE, BSE, NSDL, CDSL, MCX, and NISM.