Message from Shri K. Rajaraman, Chairperson, IFSCA, on the occasion of the 10th edition of IOSCO World Investor Week 2026

Press Release Message from Shri K. Rajaraman, Chairperson, IFSCA, on the occasion of the 10th edition of IOSCO World Investor Week 2026 As India progresses towards the vision of Viksit Bharat@2047, GIFT IFSC has an important role in connecting India with global capital and international financial markets. However, the credibility of a financial centre is measured not only by its scale of business or the sophistication of its products, but also by the confidence that consumers and investors place in its institutions.

Trust, transparency and fair treatment must therefore remain integral to the development of GIFT IFSC.

As is well known, the International Financial Services Centres Authority (IFSCA) was established by the Government of India as the unified regulator for the development and regulation of financial products, financial services and financial institutions in the International Financial Services Centres (IFSC) in India. Over the last six years, GIFT IFSC has made rapid progress across capital markets, fund management, banking, insurance, bullion, FinTech, aircraft and ship leasing and several other financial services. As of June 2026, IFSCA has granted more than 1,260 registrations and authorisations. The total asset size of banking entities in the IFSC has crossed USD 120 billion, while fund commitments have exceeded USD 45 billion. The international exchanges in the IFSC recorded an average monthly turnover of more than USD 105 billion during the first quarter of the financial year 2026-27. These developments reflect the increasing depth, diversity and international relevance of the GIFT IFSC ecosystem.

IFSCA is an associate member of the International Organization of Securities Commissions

(IOSCO). This year marks the 10th edition of IOSCO World Investor Week, celebrating a decade of promoting investor education, investor protection and financial literacy worldwide. The global campaign will take place from October 05 to 11, 2026. As part of this campaign, IFSCA, in coordination with the Market Infrastructure Institutions and other stakeholders in GIFT IFSC, is organising awareness and educational activities from October 05 to 09, 2026.

The principal themes of IOSCO World Investor Week 2026 are Investor Resilience, Digital Deception and Scam Alert, complemented by Basics of Investing and Young Investors and the Next Generation. These themes are particularly relevant at a time when financial services are increasingly being accessed through digital channels and Artificial Intelligence is influencing how information is created, communicated and consumed.

Page 1 of 3The campaign’s tagline, “Invest in Your Future. Protect It Today.”, emphasises the importance of informed financial decisions and vigilance against emerging risks.

Artificial Intelligence and digital technologies can support financial inclusion, improve service delivery, strengthen fraud detection and enable more informed financial decisions. At the same time, deepfake videos, cloned voices, fabricated documents, impersonation of trusted institutions and AI-generated misinformation are making financial deception more sophisticated and difficult to identify. Consumers are requested to periodically view the IOSCO Scam Alert Portal -

https://www.iosco.org/i-scan/ to educate themselves on how to stay safe and secure from scams.

Consumers and investors must therefore remain vigilant. They should independently verify the regulatory status of an entity or platform, understand the product and its risks, protect their passwords and authentication credentials, and exercise caution when confronted with promises of unusually high returns or pressure to act immediately. Technology can support financial decision-making, but it cannot replace independent verification and sound judgement.

For example, Relationship investment scams can begin so innocently. You meet a stranger online through social media or a dating app, an investment-related group chat, or even through a wrong number text message. Before you know it, you’re exchanging texts every day. You might be “love bombed” with frequent messages, calls, or develop a non-romantic relationship. But you never see each other in person. Your new friend is rich, attractive, travels, and likes everything you do. How did they become so wealthy? By investing in cryptocurrency, gold, or foreign currency they’ll show you how to do it too. For materials and information please visit IOSCO

portal at https://www.worldinvestorweek.org/?p=ris-campaign Financial institutions also have an important responsibility. Consumer protection cannot rest entirely on the ability of an individual to identify a fraud. Regulated entities must maintain appropriate safeguards, communicate in clear language, protect consumer information, monitor unusual activity and respond to complaints in a fair and timely manner.

During World Investor Week 2026, IFSCA and the Market Infrastructure Institutions are organising several consumer-awareness and educational activities, including various webinars and targeted outreach programmes. A full-day conference on “Consumer Awareness and Protection in the Digital Era” is also being organised by IFSCA on October 06, 2026 at GIFT City.

The conference will bring together regulators, law-enforcement officials, financial institutions, market infrastructure institutions, industry representatives and experts from capital market, Insurance, banking and other regulated areas to deliberate on consumer protection in the age of Artificial Intelligence, cyber threats, financial frauds and scams.

IFSCA has taken several measures to strengthen consumer protection in the IFSC. These include a structured process for complaint handling and grievance redressal by regulated entities, publication of the IFSCA Consumer Charter and continued efforts to improve consumer education and awareness. During the Conference, the IFSCA Academy will also launch specialised certification courses in cybersecurity and cyber resilience, corporate governance and insurance, in collaboration with leading professional and educational institutions.

I encourage all regulated entities and other stakeholders in the GIFT IFSC ecosystem to place consumer interests at the centre of their policies, systems and services. I also urge consumers and investors to remain informed, verify before acting and promptly report any suspected fraud or misuse.

आ नो भद्राः क्रतवो यन्तु ववश्वताः। In keeping with IFSCA’s motto— (Let noble thoughts come to us from all directions.), IFSCA always strives to study, benchmark and adopt best practices in Page 2 of 3Consumer Education and Protection from Regulators across the world. IFSCA’s membership in IOSCO enables IFSCA to constantly learn and share such best practices.

I convey my best wishes to all consumers, regulated entities, Market Infrastructure Institutions and other stakeholders participating in IOSCO World Investor Week 2026.

Consumers are encouraged to visit IOSCO’s World Investor Week Portal at

https://www.worldinvestorweek.org and IFSCA Consumer Protection Page at

https://ifsca.gov.in/Pages/Contents/Consumer_Protection Gandhinagar October 05, 2026 ***** Page 3 of 3