Claiming Unclaimed Assets: IEPFA 9th Foundation Day 2025 focused on unlocking idle financial assets in India, investor protection, and financial inclusion—key insights for exams.
IEPFA 9th Foundation Day — “Claiming the Unclaimed: Unlocking the Potential of Idle Financial Assets in India”
Introduction: What Was Celebrated
On September 8, 2025, the Investor Education and Protection Fund Authority (IEPFA), under India’s Ministry of Corporate Affairs, observed its 9th Foundation Day in New Delhi. The event was marked by a Round Table Conference under the theme “Claiming the Unclaimed: Unlocking the Potential of Idle Financial Assets in India.”
Keynote Address & Policy Emphasis
The conference was graced by Sanjeev Sanyal, Member of the Prime Minister’s Economic Advisory Council. He emphasized the urgent need for innovative policies and robust inter-agency coordination to ensure that idle financial assets are effectively mobilized for national development. He lauded IEPFA’s efforts at procedural and technological reforms.
IEPFA’s Initiatives & Reforms
Anita Shah Akella, CEO of IEPFA & Joint Secretary, Ministry of Corporate Affairs, delivered the inaugural address. She highlighted several major initiatives:
- Strengthening investor protection.
- Simplifying claim settlement processes.
- Expanding financial literacy efforts across India, through programmes like Niveshak Didi and Niveshak Shivirs.
Also announced was the upcoming Niveshak Samadhan – Dial Your CEO programme, the “Panchtattva vision” for faster refunds, adoption of AI-driven solutions, and establishment of an Integrated Portal for Claims and Refunds.
Stakeholder Participation & Collaborative Discussions
The Round Table included senior regulators, policymakers, and experts from diverse sectors: the securities market (SEBI), banking (RBI), insurance, pensions, provident funds, and corporate governance bodies like ICSI.
Discussions focused on several strategic areas: reducing timelines for claims, enhancing process transparency, building public trust, and ensuring that unclaimed or idle financial assets are deployed in ways that serve wider economic goals.
Outcomes & Forward Commitments
By the end of the conference, all stakeholders pledged to work in concert to:
- Strengthen financial inclusion.
- Boost investor confidence.
- Improve systems for refunding unclaimed assets like unclaimed dividends, matured deposits, shares etc.
- Emphasize transparency, technology, and trust as guiding principles.
Why This News Is Important
Significance for Investor Protection
The IEPFA is a critical regulatory institution tasked with protecting investors: facilitating refund of unclaimed dividends, matured debentures, unclaimed shares etc. By reinforcing its commitment to improving claim-settlement, simplifying processes, and using technology, the news signals stronger investor protection. That’s relevant for exams under banking, finance, and civil services in the area of economic policy, corporate law, and regulatory frameworks.
Relevance to Financial Inclusion & Asset Utilisation
India is estimated to have large sums of idle financial assets (unclaimed dividends, matured financial instruments, deposits etc.). Bringing them into circulation can help mobilize capital, reduce leakages, and support financial inclusion. For students preparing for exams, this reflects ongoing government priorities like maximizing resource utilisation and inclusive growth.
Policy & Regulatory Reforms in Focus
The news highlights ongoing reforms: simplifying low-value claims, integrated claims portal, AI-driven solutions, improved interagency coordination. These are examples of administrative efficiency, technology in governance, and public service delivery improvements—all high-yield topics for exams like PSCS, IAS, banking etc.
Historical Context
Origins of IEPFA
The Investor Education and Protection Fund Authority (IEPFA) was established on September 7, 2016 under the Ministry of Corporate Affairs, Government of India. Its mandate includes maintaining the Investor Education and Protection Fund, processing unclaimed dividends, shares, matured deposits, etc.
Issues with Unclaimed Financial Assets in India
For many years, India has grappled with financial assets that remain unclaimed due to reasons such as inactive accounts, shareholders moving/dying without transferring ownership, or simply lack of awareness. These unclaimed dividends, matured instruments etc. represent a not-insignificant pool of idle resources. The regulatory and institutional mechanisms to address them have steadily evolved.
Earlier Reform Efforts
Previous efforts included tightening corporate disclosure rules, requiring companies to declare unclaimed dividends, pushing companies via SEBI and MCA to ensure investor awareness. Also, earlier versions of portal-based claim systems existed, but often with high delays and procedural complexity. Exam-important policies have included updating law in Companies Act, rules for IEPFA, etc.
Key Takeaways from “Claim Your Unclaimed Assets: IEPFA’s 9th Foundation Day”
| S. No. | Key Takeaway |
|---|---|
| 1 | The theme of IEPFA’s 9th Foundation Day was “Claiming the Unclaimed: Unlocking the Potential of Idle Financial Assets in India.” |
| 2 | Major reforms announced: Integrated Portal for Claims & Refunds, simplifying low-value claims, upcoming “Dial Your CEO” programme, adoption of AI solutions. |
| 3 | The event was addressed by senior officials including Sanjeev Sanyal (PM’s Economic Advisory Council) and Anita Shah Akella (CEO, IEPFA), highlighting policy and institutional focus. |
| 4 | Stakeholders across sectors—SEBI, RBI, insurance, pensions, corporations—committed to improving transparency, reducing claims time, and strengthening investor confidence. |
| 5 | Broader implications: enhanced financial inclusion, mobilization of idle assets, better governance, and stronger protection mechanisms for investors. |
FAQs: Frequently Asked Questions
1. What is IEPFA?
Answer: The Investor Education and Protection Fund Authority (IEPFA) is a statutory body under the Ministry of Corporate Affairs, Government of India, responsible for safeguarding investor interests and managing unclaimed financial assets such as dividends, matured deposits, and shares.
2. When was IEPFA established?
Answer: IEPFA was established on September 7, 2016 to manage the Investor Education and Protection Fund and streamline the claim process for unclaimed financial assets.
3. What was the theme of IEPFA’s 9th Foundation Day in 2025?
Answer: The theme was “Claiming the Unclaimed: Unlocking the Potential of Idle Financial Assets in India.”
4. Who addressed the 9th Foundation Day of IEPFA?
Answer: Key speakers included Sanjeev Sanyal, Member of PM’s Economic Advisory Council, and Anita Shah Akella, CEO of IEPFA and Joint Secretary, Ministry of Corporate Affairs.
5. What are some major initiatives announced during the 9th Foundation Day?
Answer: Initiatives include the Integrated Portal for Claims and Refunds, Dial Your CEO programme, AI-driven solutions for claims, and faster processing for low-value unclaimed assets.
6. Why is claiming unclaimed financial assets important for India?
Answer: It mobilizes idle financial assets for productive use, strengthens financial inclusion, increases transparency, and boosts investor confidence—key areas for economic growth.
7. Which stakeholders were part of the Round Table Conference?
Answer: Representatives from SEBI, RBI, insurance, pensions, provident funds, and corporate governance bodies participated to discuss improvements in unclaimed asset management.
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