Archive · 14 Aug 2026
SEBI Proposes Securities-Assets Route to Widen Accredited Investor Pool
SEBI is the group in India that watches over the stock market.
It decides who can buy special investment products like Alternative Investment Funds.
These products are meant for people who have a lot of money and can take big risks.
Right now, people must earn at least Rs 2 crore a year or be very wealthy to qualify.
SEBI wants to add a new way to qualify.
If a person has at least Rs 5 crore invested in stocks and other market assets, they could join.
Big companies and trusts would need Rs 20 crore in such assets.
This could make about 3.7 lakh more people eligible.
SEBI also wants foreign investors to get automatic accredited status.
That means more people could invest in these special products, growing the number from about 96,000.
SEBI proposed a new accreditation route based on securities-market holdings of at least Rs 5 crore for individuals.
Body corporates and trusts, other than family trusts, would need Rs 20 crore in securities-market assets to qualify.
An analysis by the regulator suggests nearly 3.7 lakh investors could become eligible under the proposed route as of April 30, 2026.
SEBI also proposed deemed accredited investor status for all Persons Resident Outside India under FEMA, including all Foreign Portfolio Investors.
The move aims to widen participation in Alternative Investment Funds (AIFs), whose current investor base stands at about 96,000.
- Who
- Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI), the markets regulator
- What
- Proposed changes to the accredited investor framework, adding a securities-market assets eligibility route and deemed accredited status for overseas investors
- When
- Announced on Thursday; SEBI's analysis counts eligible investors as of April 30, 2026
- Where
- India; the announcement was reported from Mumbai
- Why
- To widen participation in Alternative Investment Funds (AIFs) and other investment products available to accredited investors
- Regulator
- Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI)
- Proposed asset threshold (individuals)
- Rs 5 crore in securities-market holdings
- Proposed asset threshold (corporates and trusts)
- Rs 20 crore in securities-market assets
- Newly eligible investors
- Nearly 3.7 lakh as of April 30, 2026
- Current AIF investor base
- About 96,000 investors
- Current individual criteria
- Rs 2 crore annual income, or Rs 7.5 crore net worth with Rs 3.75 crore in financial assets, or combined income of Rs 1 crore and net worth of Rs 5 crore
- Overseas investors
- Deemed accredited status proposed for all Persons Resident Outside India and Foreign Portfolio Investors under FEMA