Indian investors have demonstrated remarkable maturity and resilience by continuing to back primary markets and mutual funds despite prolonged global uncertainty. Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) Chairman Tuhin Kanta Pandey emphasised that investor participation reflects a deeper understanding of market cycles and confidence in India’s economic strength. Speaking at the annual conference of the Association of Portfolio Managers in India, Pandey noted that investors are aware of how markets evolve and improve over time, showing intelligence often underestimated.
He highlighted that companies across diverse sectors, including infrastructure, industry, and services, have successfully raised capital in the primary market, supported by strong investor interest. This resilience, he said, underscores optimism about India’s macroeconomic foundations, which remain solid even as global economies grapple with uncertainty. Pandey pointed to emerging opportunities in traditional industries, energy transition, artificial intelligence, and new-age sectors, where Indian firms are increasingly building capabilities.
The SEBI chief also stressed the importance of coordination among regulators, citing ongoing work with the Reserve Bank of India to simplify foreign portfolio investor processes. Addressing portfolio managers, he cautioned that suitability of strategies must go beyond minimum thresholds, urging focus on risks, benchmarks, and consistency with investment philosophy. Pandey expressed optimism that the portfolio management industry could grow over 20 percent annually as India’s investment universe expands.
