February 6, 2025: Assam has emerged as a strong force in India's stock market, with a notable participation from women investors. According to officials from the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI), the state has registered over 24.6 lakh investors, of which 29.8% are women. This places Assam among the top contributors to India's investment landscape. 

"Assam ranks fifth in terms of women’s participation in the securities market across the country," said a SEBI official. "From 0.7% in 2019, the participation of women in Assam’s investor base has grown significantly, reaching 2.3% in 2024. This is a testament to the increasing financial empowerment of women in the region."

The remarks were made during an event aimed at raising awareness and protecting investors in the stock market. The initiative was attended by Anuradha Verma, General Manager of SEBI, who emphasized the need for investors to stay informed and cautious, especially in the face of growing scams targeting the unaware.

Despite the rising interest in investing, SEBI officials warned that investors in Assam remain particularly vulnerable to online trading fraud. Many have fallen prey to fraudulent brokers and platforms promising extraordinarily high returns, only to lose their investments.

One such example was DB Stock Broking, a firm that allegedly defrauded investors of nearly ₹7,000 crore in 2024. The firm, which started in 2018, claimed to offer exceptional returns ranging from 8% monthly to 120% annually. It had about 16,000 clients before its fraudulent activities came to light.

To counter such scams, SEBI has been actively conducting awareness campaigns. The ‘Regional Investor Seminar for Awareness’ program, which was part of the initiative, aims to educate the public on topics like market basics, fraud prevention, and responsible investing.

As women investors in Assam continue to play an increasingly important role in the stock market, the need for robust education and vigilance is crucial to ensure their financial security.