India's market boom faces new test: Can regulators protect investor trust amid foreign short-seller attacks?
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India’s stock markets are in the middle of a transformation that is both profound and precarious. A generation ago, equity investing was the preserve of a small, urban elite, bound to brokers, research reports, and a handful of financial dailies. Today, because of reforms carried out by SEBI, the RBI, and the finance ministry, the market’s reach has spread far beyond its traditional base. The numbers tell the story. Demat accounts, which numbered just 3.6 crore in 2019, have surged to over 19 crore by mid-2025, with more than 16 crore held through CDSL alone. As of September 23, 2025, the total number of investor accounts registered with the NSE stood at 23.5 crore. The mutual fund boom has added further depth: 5.4 crore investors now participate through systematic investment plans, with a doubling of small-ticket SIPs under ₹500, many from tier-III towns. The democratization of market access is real and visible. Investors are no longer t...