**Executive Summary**
SEBI is rolling out "Validated UPI Handles" and "SEBI Check" initiatives to enhance investor protection and security of payments. Validated UPI handles with the "@valid" suffix will identify registered intermediaries. Additionally, the "SEBI Check" tool allows investors to verify bank account details of SEBI-registered intermediaries.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Validated UPI Handles:**
* UPI IDs of SEBI-registered intermediaries will use the "@valid" handle, issued by NPCI, along with category-specific suffixes (.brk for brokers, .mf for mutual funds).
* Payments through "@valid" handles will display a "thumbs-up inside a green triangle" icon for visual verification.
* A specially designed QR code featuring the "thumbs-up" logo enables error-free transactions.
* **SEBI Check Tool:**
* Investors can verify bank account details and UPI IDs of SEBI-registered intermediaries using the "SEBI Check" tool.
* The tool can be accessed through the SEBI Check platform (SEBI website) or the Saarthi app.
* **Core Benefits:**
* Assured Security: Payments routed exclusively through verified intermediaries reduce fraud risks.
* Fraud Prevention: Investors can detect fraudulent activities by identifying the presence of the "thumbs-up" visual cue.
* Transparency and Trust: Enhances a reliable and transparent framework for investor transactions.
**Impact Analysis**
**Investors**
**Impact:**
Investors benefit from increased security and transparency in their payments to SEBI-registered intermediaries, reducing fraud risks.
**Action Required:**
Investors are urged to use the “@valid” handle and verify payment details through “SEBI Check” when making payments to SEBI-registered investor-facing intermediaries.
**SEBI-Registered Investor-Facing Intermediaries**
**Impact:**
Intermediaries must adopt the "@valid" UPI handle, and the "SEBI Check" tool.
**Action Required:**
Ensure that UPI IDs carry the exclusive “@valid” handle and facilitate investors using the SEBI check platform.
Key Entities Referenced
Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI): The primary regulator for securities markets in India, responsible for rolling out and overseeing the 'Validated UPI Handles' and 'SEBI Check' initiatives.
Validated UPI Handles: A system where SEBI-registered intermediaries' UPI IDs carry an exclusive '@valid' handle, issued by NPCI, to help investors identify legitimate entities.
SEBI Check: A functionality developed by SEBI that allows investors to verify the authenticity of bank account details and UPI IDs of SEBI-registered intermediaries.
National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI): The entity that issues the '@valid' handle for validated UPI payments.
PR No.64/2025
SEBI rolls out “Validated UPI Handles” and “SEBI Check” for secure investor
payments
Further to its Press Release No. 31/2025 and Circular No. SEBI/HO/DEPA-
II/DEPA-II_SRG/P/CIR/2025/86 dated June 11, 2025, SEBI is pleased to
announce that the initiatives on Validated UPI Handles and SEBI Check are
now live and available for investors.
1. Validated UPI Handles
The UPI IDs of SEBI-registered investor-facing intermediaries will now carry the
exclusive “@valid” handle, issued by NPCI, along with category-specific
suffixes. This will enable investors to easily identify legitimate entities.
As of today, major brokers, covering over 90% of investors, along with all
Mutual Funds have already adopted the "@valid” UPI handle. Introduced as
an additional payment option for investors, this facility complements existing
payment modes, allowing investors the flexibility to continue using the method
they are most comfortable with.
This milestone initiative establishes a secure and verified payment channel
within the securities market. SEBI advises all individual investors to actively use
the structured and exclusive “@valid” handle to make payments to SEBI-
registered investor-facing intermediaries.Key Features of ‘@valid’ Handle
i. Exclusive "@valid" Handle: The handle will feature a unique and
exclusive identifier, "@valid", combined with the name of the self-
certified syndicate bank. The new UPI id will also include the special
suffix, such as .brk for brokers and .mf for mutual funds, for easy
identification of registered intermediary type.
(Example: abc.brk@validhdfc; xyz.mf@validicici)
ii. Visual Verification: A distinctive “thumbs-up inside a green triangle”
icon will appear when making payments through the “@valid” UPI
handle, confirming transaction authenticity. At the same time its absence
serves as a caution to investors that they are making payments to
unauthorised entities.
iii. Distinctive QR Code: A specially designed QR code, featuring the
“thumbs-up” logo at its centre, enables convenient and error-free
transactions. The presence of this QR code assures investors that
payments are being made to SEBI-registered intermediaries.
(Sample QR Code)
2. SEBI Check Tool
To further empower investors, SEBI has developed a new functionality called
“SEBI Check”. Through this functionality, investors, irrespective of whether
they are making payments though the @valid handles or other modes of bank
transfer (like NEFT, RTGS, IMPS), can independently verify and confirm theauthenticity of the bank account details and UPI IDs of SEBI registered
intermediaries with the help of the bank account number and IFSC code or
@valid UPI ID of an entity through SEBI Check by visiting: SEBI Check platform
or https://siportal.sebi.gov.in/intermediary/sebi-check or Saarthi app of SEBI.
SEBI strongly urges all individual investors to verify the authenticity of
the bank account details at “SEBI Check” when making payments to
SEBI-registered investor-facing intermediaries. By doing so, investors can
safeguard their funds and transact with greater confidence.
3. Core Benefits of these Initiatives
i. Assured Security: Payments will be routed exclusively through verified
SEBI-registered intermediaries, reducing risks of fraud and misdirection.
ii. Fraud Prevention: Investors can now instantly detect and avoid
fraudulent activities when the exclusive “thumbs-up” visual cue is
absent in UPI transactions.
iii. Transparency and Trust: A simple, reliable and transparent framework
to empowers investors to transact with confidence.
These two rollouts of “@valid Handle” and “SEBI Check” are expected to
significantly enhance investor protection by curbing fraudulent money
collections by unregistered entities.
These initiatives underscores SEBI’s continued commitment to safeguard
investors, uphold market integrity and build robust digital trust in India’s
securities market ecosystem.
For more details on this initiative, please refer to the Circular available on the
SEBI website.
Mumbai
October 1, 2025