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SEBI Launches ‘UPI Handle’ and ‘SEBI Check’ Initiatives to Safeguard Investors.

Banking & Finance | Dated: 09 Oct 2025

In October 2025, the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) recently launched two major initiatives — the Unified Payment Interface (UPI) Handle and SEBI Check — to strengthen investor protection and ensure transparency in the capital market. These initiatives were developed in collaboration with the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI).

🎯 Key Highlights:

  • - The initiatives aim to prevent fraudulent transactions and unauthorized intermediaries in the securities market.
  • - Both projects were jointly developed with the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) to bring advanced safety and verification layers into digital financial transactions.
  • - SEBI introduced verified “@valid” UPI IDs for all registered investor-facing intermediaries, including brokers and mutual funds. Over 90% of investors and all mutual funds have already adopted these verified handles. The suffix, such as “.brk” for brokers and “.mf” for mutual funds, indicates the intermediary type.

💡 Other Important Facts:

  • (i) When an investor makes a UPI payment using a registered @valid handle, a green triangle with a thumbs-up symbol appears on the payment screen for authentication. This visual cue ensures transaction legitimacy and acts as a warning signal in the absence of the symbol, alerting investors about potential fraud.
  • (ii) The SEBI Check is a digital self-verification tool that allows investors to verify the authenticity of SEBI-registered entities before making payments. It supports UPI transactions and other transfer modes such as NEFT (National Electronic Funds Transfer), RTGS (Real-Time Gross Settlement), and IMPS (Immediate Payment Service).
  • (iii) Investors can access verification details through the SEBI portal or the Saarthi mobile app. The SEBI Check system also includes a QR code featuring the same green thumbs-up logo for quick and error-free authentication of registered intermediaries.

📚 Test Your Knowledge:

Which regulatory body has recently launched the ‘UPI Handle’ and ‘SEBI Check’ initiatives to enhance investor protection and transparency in capital markets?

Correct Answer: SEBI

🚀 Quick Recap:

About Securities Exchange Board of India (SEBI)

  • Chairman : Tuhin Kanta Pandey
  • Headquarter : Mumbai