SEBI Chairman Tuhin Kanta Pandey has emphasized that trust remains a company's most vital asset while addressing corporate leaders at the Institute of Directors Annual Directors' Conclave 2026. Speaking at the conclave, Pandey highlighted the rapid expansion of India's capital markets and urged boardrooms to shift their focus from basic regulatory compliance to active stewardship. He detailed how modern corporate enterprises face a landscape dominated by cyber threats, artificial intelligence, climate risks, and shifting investor expectations.
Pandey stressed that good governance is not merely about doing what the rules require, as reported by ET Now. He urged independent directors to actively challenge decisions and ask critical questions to protect public shareholders. The SEBI chief emphasized that independent judgment relies heavily on receiving clear, contextualised, and timely information from management. This approach reflects the regulator's focus on moving beyond mere compliance to active stewardship in the evolving market landscape.
SEBI chief has flagged the need for stronger governance as the mutual fund investor base continues to expand, according to reports from ET Now. India now has around 6.3 crore mutual fund investors, as highlighted by Fortune India CEO Vaibhav Chugh. The regulatory chief's comments come at a time when the mutual fund industry is experiencing significant growth in investor participation. Chugh noted that rising per-capita income and increasing financialisation of household savings should continue to support flows, with SIP flows expected to remain structurally resilient despite periodic market volatility.
Foreign institutional investors may return to Indian equities as earnings visibility improves and valuations turn attractive versus global peers, according to Fortune India CEO Vaibhav Chugh. Price-to-earnings ratios are around 20-23 times, while earnings visibility has improved significantly. Chugh explained that India has moved from being one of the most expensive major markets with limited earnings visibility to a market where earnings prospects have improved, creating a stronger investment case for global investors. While FIIs have been net sellers of equities worth ₹3.49 lakh crore so far in 2026, domestic institutional flows have remained consistent buyers with net purchases of ₹5.40 lakh crore.
