**Executive Summary**
The Investor Education and Protection Fund Authority (IEPFA), in collaboration with NCAER and Sapphire International School, organised an Investor Education and Protection Workshop on the eve of International Women's Day. The event, held on March 09, 2026, aimed to enhance financial literacy and digital safety among young students and women, supporting financial empowerment and inclusion.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Event Purpose:** To strengthen financial literacy, investor awareness, and digital safety.
* **Target Audience:** Young students and women.
* **Workshop Theme:** "The Future is Now: Financial Education for Gen-Alpha and Bridging the Gender Gap for Viksit Bharat."
* **Key Discussions:** Responsible financial behaviour, gender-inclusive financial participation in India's digital economy, early financial education for safe habits and cyber fraud avoidance, and empowering women and girls.
* **Outreach Initiative:** Engaged housekeeping staff to explain basic financial concepts like savings and investments.
* **Concluding Activity:** Certificate distribution for quiz winners and participants.
* **Commitment:** Reinforces IEPFA and NCAER's commitment to promoting financial literacy and empowering communities.
**Impact Analysis**
* **Young Students and Women**
* **Impact:** Enhanced financial literacy, investor awareness, and digital safety knowledge. Increased confidence and independence through financial knowledge. Better equipped to develop safe financial habits and avoid cyber fraud.
* **Action Required:** Participate in educational initiatives and apply learned financial knowledge.
* **Policymakers, Financial Experts, and Educators**
* **Impact:** Provided a platform to discuss and strategize on responsible financial behaviour, gender-inclusive financial participation, and aligning financial education with digital transformation.
* **Action Required:** Continue to develop and implement policies and educational programs that foster financial empowerment and inclusion.
* **Housekeeping Staff**
* **Impact:** Gained understanding of basic financial concepts such as savings and investments, and safe financial practices.
* **Action Required:** Utilize the knowledge gained to make informed financial decisions.
Key Entities Referenced
Investor Education and Protection Fund Authority (IEPFA): The primary organizing body that aims to strengthen financial literacy and investor awareness.
National Council of Applied Economic Research (NCAER): A collaborating institution that jointly organized the workshop and focuses on economic research.
Ministry of Corporate Affairs: The parent ministry of IEPFA, indicating the governmental oversight and scope of the initiative.
Viksit Bharat: The overarching vision guiding the initiative for financial empowerment and an inclusive society.
Sapphire International School: An educational institution that collaborated on the workshop, focusing on engaging young learners.
Ministry of Corporate Affairs
IEPFA–NCAER jointly organise Investor
Education and Protection Workshop on the eve
of International Women’s Day
Posted On: 09 MAR 2026 7:02PM by PIB Delhi
The Investor Education and Protection Fund Authority (IEPFA), under the Ministry of Corporate Affairs,
Government of India, in collaboration with the National Council of Applied Economic Research
(NCAER) and Sapphire International School, organised an Investor Education and Protection Workshop to
celebrate International Women’s Day.
The event aimed to strengthen financial literacy, investor awareness, and digital safety among young
students and women, supporting the vision of a financially empowered and inclusive society.
The workshop focused on the theme ‘The Future is Now: Financial Education for Gen-Alpha and
Bridging the Gender Gap for Viksit Bharat.” It brought together policymakers, financial experts, and
educators to discuss the importance of responsible financial behaviour and gender-inclusive financial
participation in India’s growing digital economy.
Welcoming the participants, Ms. Ekta Soni, Principal, Sapphire International School, highlighted the
importance of equipping young learners, especially girls, with financial knowledge to build confidence
and independence.
In her keynote address, Ms. Anita Shah Akella, CEO, IEPFA & Joint Secretary, Ministry of
Corporate Affairs, emphasised that as India witnesses rapid growth in digital payments, early financial
education is essential to help young citizens develop safe financial habits and avoid cyber fraud. She also
underlined the importance of empowering women and girls through financial awareness and informed
decision-making.
The panel discussion, moderated by Dr. C. S. Mohapatra, IEPF Chair Professor, NCAER, focused on
the need to align financial education with India’s digital transformation and address the gender gap in
financial confidence and access. Experts including Dr. Sonal Tikku, Ms. Himani Lath, and CS ShivamSharma shared insights on cyber safety, financial planning, ethical financial practices, and regulatory
awareness.
As part of the outreach initiative, the workshop also engaged housekeeping staff, where experts explained
basic concepts of savings, investments, and safe financial practices in a simple and practical manner. An
interactive Q&A session allowed participants to seek guidance on digital safety and financial planning.
The workshop concluded with certificate distribution for quiz winners and participants, reinforcing IEPFA
and NCAER’s commitment to promoting financial literacy and empowering youth and communities in
line with the vision of Viksit Bharat.
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NB/ONP
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