The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) has officially launched Project Jagrook, a nationwide investor awareness campaign aimed at helping people make more informed financial decisions. As per CNBC TV18, SEBI Chairman Tuhin Kanta Pandey launched the initiative on October 5, 2026, urging investors not to make investment decisions simply because someone recommended them or because others were investing. The campaign was launched at Panjab University, Chandigarh on the occasion of World Investor Week 2026, with the 10th edition of World Investor Week being observed from October 5 to 11 under the theme 'Samajh Se Investing Simple'. The campaign will run across TV, print, radio, cinema, outdoor media, digital platforms, OTT and WhatsApp in English, Hindi and 11 regional languages, with communication continuing until March 2027. One of the central messages of the campaign is: 'Do not invest because someone told you to. Do not invest because everyone else is investing. Invest because you understand.'
The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) has directed all stock brokers to prominently display standardised investor awareness messages on their websites and mobile trading applications. According to a circular issued on October 1, 2026, this directive falls under Project Jagrook—SEBI's nationwide investor education initiative and coincides with the upcoming World Investor Week 2026. The move builds on SEBI's May 2023 mandate, which required brokers to display mandatory risk disclosures to their clients. As per The Hindu BusinessLine, the new requirements will be implemented in phases: Between October 5 and October 31, 2026, stock brokers must display SEBI-specified investor awareness messages on their websites alongside existing risk disclosures. From November 1, 2026, these messages will become mandatory on the landing pages of broker websites. For trading applications, brokers may voluntarily display the awareness messages during October, but from November 1, the requirement will become mandatory across trading platforms as well. SEBI has instructed stock exchanges and depositories to communicate the latest directions to market participants and make the necessary regulatory changes to ensure seamless implementation.
Samajh Se Investing Simple is SEBI's comprehensive investor education programme under Project Jagrook, structured into seven modules covering topics ranging from managing money and setting financial goals to understanding securities markets, mutual funds, direct investing, taxation and protection against fraud. The programme is aimed at beginners, first-time and retail investors, students and young people entering the financial markets, with no prior knowledge of investing required. The modules can be completed at one's own pace, with the total duration adding up to approximately 260 minutes or 4 hours and 20 minutes. The programme starts with basic financial concepts such as income, expenses, emergency funds and loans before moving to securities markets and investment products. Module 1: Money Before Markets covers salary, spending, emergency fund, and loans (5 chapters, about 46 minutes), Module 2: From Money to a Plan focuses on turning financial goals into numbers with dates (3 chapters, about 26 minutes), Module 3: Understanding & Preparing to Enter the Market explains securities markets and accounts (5 chapters, about 50 minutes), Module 4: Investing Through Mutual Funds covers mutual fund basics and automatic investing (4 chapters, about 33 minutes), Module 5: Investing Directly: Shares, Bonds and Government Schemes covers IPOs, direct shares, bonds and government securities (4 chapters, about 37 minutes), Module 6: Staying Invested covers reading statements, managing mindset, and tax planning (5 chapters, about 47 minutes), and Module 7: Protecting Yourself focuses on fraud identification, verification before payments, and handling issues (2 chapters, about 21 minutes). The programme is available free of cost and does not require general registration, with learning resources accessible through mobile phones.
The latest direction strengthens digital investor education and risk communication at a time when retail participation in equities and derivatives remains high. Broker apps have become the primary interface for a large section of retail investors, with trading now heavily app-driven. SEBI appears to be using the same digital entry points to push investor education and risk messaging more visibly. The messages aim at investor benefit, safety and education, with the regulator's circular specifically stating that the messages shared with intermediaries may be modified periodically to keep them relevant and effective. The circular does not specify penalties for non-compliance, but requires all stock brokers to display the messages in the prescribed manner under Section 11(1) of the Securities and Exchange Board of India Act, 1992. The coordinated teaser campaign precedes the launch of SEBI's planned investor initiatives, where the regulator is expanding its digital and educational outreach to demystify complex market products and improve baseline financial literacy across retail participants.
SEBI has launched the 'Mentoring of University/College Students by Trainers (MUST)' initiative to strengthen financial literacy and securities market awareness among students. Under MUST, nominated faculty members, staff or senior students will be trained and certified by SEBI, securities market partners and NISM as Partner Trainers. These trainers will impart financial literacy and securities market awareness within universities and colleges, with a focus on informed investing and prevention of financial frauds. SEBI is working with the Association of Indian Universities to facilitate wider adoption of Project Jagrook and MUST across universities and educational institutions. Additionally, SEBI has announced its official presence on WhatsApp to provide investor awareness information and resources. Its official WhatsApp Channel can be accessed through 1800 22 7575 and will carry a verified blue tick to help users identify the authentic account. The initiative is being undertaken by SEBI along with securities market partners, including stock exchanges, depositories, the Association of Mutual Funds in India (AMFI) and the National Institute of Securities Markets (NISM).
