2 weeks ago
Sebi Proposes Rs 5 Crore Assets Route For Accredited Investors
Sebi is the group in India that makes sure the stock market is safe and fair.
It has special rules for very rich people who want to invest in special funds.
These people are called 'accredited investors.'
Right now, to become one, you need to earn a lot of money or own a huge amount of things.
Sebi wants to add a new rule: if you have investments worth at least Rs 5 crore (which is a very, very big amount), you can qualify too.
This would let about 3.7 lakh more people join these special investment funds.
These funds are risky, so only people with lots of money are allowed in.
Sebi also wants investment managers to check who qualifies when they sign up new investors.
People who live outside India could also be treated as accredited investors.
This is just a suggestion, and people can share their opinions until September 3.
Sebi has proposed that individuals with at least Rs 5 crore in securities-market assets qualify as accredited investors, irrespective of existing income or net-worth criteria.
For body corporates and trusts other than family trusts, the proposed securities-market assets threshold is Rs 20 crore.
As of April 30, 2026, around 3.7 lakh investors could qualify under the proposed criterion, nearly four times the current AIF investor base of around 96,000.
Sebi proposed letting investment managers determine and record an investor's accredited status at onboarding, with recognition at the group-entity level across AIFs, SIFs and PMS.
Sebi proposed treating Persons Resident Outside India (PROIs), including foreign portfolio investors, as deemed accredited investors, and is seeking comments till September 3.
- Who
- Sebi (Securities and Exchange Board of India), India's markets regulator.
- What
- Proposed a new securities-market-assets criterion of Rs 5 crore for accredited investor status, with a Rs 20 crore threshold for body corporates and non-family trusts.
- Where
- India, with the regulator based in New Delhi.
- When
- Announced in a consultation paper dated August 13, 2026; comments are sought until September 3, 2026.
- Why
- To widen the pool of investors eligible for accredited investor status and encourage greater participation in alternative investment funds (AIFs).
Key facts
- Regulator
- Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi)
- Proposed threshold for individuals
- At least Rs 5 crore in securities-market assets
- Proposed threshold for body corporates and non-family trusts
- At least Rs 20 crore in securities-market assets
- Current income criterion
- Annual income of at least Rs 2 crore
- Current net-worth criterion
- Net worth of at least Rs 7.5 crore, of which Rs 3.75 crore in financial assets
- Investors who could qualify under proposal
- Around 3.7 lakh (about 370,000) as of April 30, 2026
- Current AIF investor base
- Around 96,000
- Comment deadline
- September 3, 2026











