The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) and India’s Investor Education and Protection Fund Authority (IEPFA) have jointly launched the first Niveshak Shivir in Pune, Maharashtra to help shareholders reclaim unpaid dividends and unclaimed shares and reduce the stock of unclaimed investor assets. The day-long event was organised with market infrastructure institutions NSE, BSE, NSDL and CDSL, alongside registrar and transfer agents including KFin Technologies, Bigshare Services, Datamatics Business Solutions, Purva Sharegistry India and MUFG Intime India. More than 450 investors and claimants attended, with 31 service desks providing end-to-end support on claims relating to dividends and shares unclaimed for over six years, on-the-spot KYC and nomination updates, resolution of claim issues, and processing of pending claims filed with IEPFA. A venue search facility helped participants identify unclaimed assets linked to them or family members, and officials assisted with completing the IEPF-5 form; SEBI and IEPFA representatives also released an Investor's Guide detailing a step-by-step claims process via the IEPF portal, required documents including PAN, Aadhaar and an entitlement letter, and tips to avoid common causes of claim rejection. SEBI and IEPFA indicated similar Shivirs are proposed for other cities with significant unclaimed investor assets, with a city-wise calendar to be finalised after learnings from the pilot.

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