In a recent development, the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) announced its intention to regulate online platforms that provide fractional ownership of real estate assets. The board emphasized that such platforms would be required to register under the framework designed for small and medium real estate investment trusts (REITs).
SEBI, in a press statement released after its quarterly board meeting, further disclosed that starting September 2024, all new investments by alternate investment funds (AIFs) would be mandated to be held in dematerialized (demat) form.
Madhabi Puri Buch, the chairperson of SEBI, addressed concerns about investor losses in equity derivatives trading during the meeting. She stressed the regulator’s responsibility to caution against such risks. Despite acknowledging increased activity in equity derivatives trading, Buch expressed that there was no systemic concern.
Additionally, the regulator approved rules governing index providers. SEBI will identify significant indices frequently used by market participants in India, bringing them under its regulatory framework.