IEPFA and SEBI Launch 'Niveshak Shivirs' to Help Investors Reclaim Unclaimed Shares and Dividends.

Imagine discovering a long-lost treasure. That is what most Indian investors are sitting on without even realising it—a treasure trove of unclaimed shares and dividends. The Investor Education and Protection Fund Authority (IEPFA) puts the figure at more than ₹1 lakh crore worth of unclaimed shares, with another ₹6,000 crore of unclaimed dividends. But mostly, this cash remains unclaimed, out there in plain sight for anyone who does not know where to get it.

For many families, this wealth may be linked to their parents', grandparents', or even their own forgotten dividend earnings from years ago. Yet as the years go by, these funds remain undisturbed, and the intricate processes for retrieving them scare off many from even trying the exercise. But now, the 'Niveshak Shivirs', a collaborative program of SEBI and IEPFA, are extending a lifeline to Indian investors who wish to recover their missing wealth.

Investors receiving assistance at the Niveshak Shivir event organized by IEPFA and SEBI to reclaim unclaimed shares and dividends.

The Challenge: Why So Much Money Remains Unclaimed

There are numerous reasons why shares and dividends go unclaimed for years, perhaps without the owner's knowledge. In most instances, investors forget about their shares or lose them. This may occur if an individual changes cities, names, or bank account details without informing the companies or entities holding their investments. After such shares and dividends lie dormant for a period of seven years, they are transferred to the IEPFA and kept there until claimed.

The intricacy of the claim procedure is also a major impediment. Previously, the process of claiming such assets was tedious, with notarisation, succession certificates, and several forms involved. These barriers created hurdles in recovering one's legitimate assets for the common investor. Furthermore, the ignorance of people over the fact that such funds are available is another major cause of how much money is unclaimed. Most individuals simply don't know that they have dividends or shares to be claimed, and they don't know where they can begin the process.

Consider the case of Rekha, a retired teacher from Pune. For years, she was unaware that her late husband's shares, bought decades ago, had been transferred to IEPFA. The plethora of documents and paucity of available resources deterred her from even trying to get back those shares. It was only when she heard about the Niveshak Shivirs that she made a move, perceiving that the wealth that her family had lost sight of was at hand.

The Solution: How Niveshak Shivirs Are Making a Difference

As a solution to this common problem, SEBI and IEPFA introduced the 'Niveshak Shivirs'—a chain of on-ground initiatives with the aim of making the process of claiming unclaimed shares and dividends easier. These events take place in major cities throughout India, especially in regions with large populations of investors whose shares and dividends have remained idle for years.

During these events, a joint effort by SEBI, IEPFA, companies, and Registrars and Transfer Agents (RTAs) is taken to directly help investors claim their unclaimed assets. Separate kiosks are arranged at the events where investors can meet experts and avail personalised advice. The availability of RTAs ensures that any complaints are solved instantly, reducing the involvement of third-party intermediaries. The goal is to have a clear, straightforward way to reclaim shares and dividends so that each investor has the easiest process to get back their shares and dividends.

The program is also aimed at eliminating the possibility of fraud, which has recurrently affected claim procedures in the past. Through direct interaction with companies and RTAs, Niveshak Shivirs make the whole process safer and more trustworthy for investors. Through an easy registration on a swift and straightforward QR code-linked Google Form, investors can easily participate and eliminate all logistical hurdles.

The Bigger Picture: What It Means to the Indian Investor

Although the Niveshak Shivirs might seem to be a one-off exercise in reclaiming forgotten riches, they are part of a wider transition in India's financial landscape. This is not just about recovering lost assets—this is about restoring investor confidence in the system and guaranteeing that everyone has the opportunity to access and claim their own hard-earned cash.

By decreasing the role of the middlemen, this scheme empowers investors directly, especially those who have been left out or intimidated by the process. For the first time in history, retail investors generally have a straightforward, unmediated manner of participating with the firms that own their assets. This program is essential in fostering financial education and trust, making more and more people feel safe working in the investment world.

Additionally, this initiative will be complementing India's overall vision of financial inclusion. With numerous small investors spread all over the nation, programs like the Niveshak Shivirs are bringing the financial system closer to regular citizens so that they can avail themselves of the tools and guidance they require to take care of their wealth.

Making It Easier Than Ever: Claiming Your Unclaimed Shares

One of the most impressive things about this scheme is the manner in which it has eased the previously complicated process of claiming. In the past two years, IEPFA has eased many of the documentation needs and it has become easier for people to recover their shares and dividends. For instance, the process has come to accept self-attestation rather than any new notarization. Additionally, succession certificates are not needed for claims of up to ₹5 lakh, which reduces the complexity of the claims process significantly for many people.

In addition, the upgraded online search tool on the IEPFA portal enhances traceability of unclaimed assets easier than ever before. Investors can now instantly verify whether they own any shares or dividends due to them without depending on third-party sources. As of August 2025, IEPFA is implementing an integrated portal that will offer real-time tracking, immediate validation of data, and efficient communication with companies. This will speed up the process, make it more precise, and more effective.

How to Check If You Have Unclaimed Shares or Dividends

If you think you have unclaimed shares or dividends, the way to verify and claim them has never been easier. Just go to the IEPFA website and search for your unclaimed assets by entering your PAN number or folio number. If you do not have these numbers, no problem—lots of investors and their legal heirs have managed to trace their assets by other identification details available on the portal.

The portal also offers step-by-step instructions on what to do in case of unclaimed shares or dividends in your name. The process of making claims is now transparent, and through the Niveshak Shivirs, investors can now make direct claims of assets from the companies instead of depending on agents.

Impact of Unclaimed Assets on the Economy: The Ripple Effect

Though unclaimed assets might appear to be a private matter to individual investors, their impact reaches well beyond the individual. When enormous amounts of money, in the form of unclaimed shares and dividends, lie dormant, the economic impact can be significant, reaching well beyond the individual investor to the overall financial system.

Unclaimed assets are a hidden drain on the economy. The economy is at its best when it has liquidity—the presence of cash or assets that can be readily drawn down, sold, or re-invested. When these unclaimed assets are sitting idle in funds such as the Investor Education and Protection Fund (IEPF), they take billions of rupees out of the economy. These assets essentially aren't working for the economy—they're tied up, unrecoverable for re-investment or consumer purchases.

Recapturing these abandoned funds has the ability to stimulate economic activity. When individuals and businesses regain access to the money, they will be more likely to invest in the stock market, purchase goods and services, or even create new businesses. This re-circulation of wealth increases market liquidity and consumer spending, which stimulates the economic growth.

Consider this: unclaimed assets are similar to water behind a dam. The water (or funds) exists but isn't being released into the river (the economy) to support its upkeep. If we can let this money flow back into the economy, it will be free to do so, supporting markets, stimulating growth, and creating more wealth along the way.

To illustrate, consider what could happen if the ₹1 lakh crore of unclaimed shares and ₹6,000 crore of unclaimed dividends were made available. Such funds could be reinvested in the stock market, invested by investors in establishing new ventures, or even consumed on goods and services, boosting demand and supporting production. This would inject new money into different industries and keep the economy's wheels rolling.

Additionally, the funds usually lie in the balance sheets of companies and in the hands of financial institutions that cannot utilise them until they are retrieved. By returning such assets to the cycle of the economy, we decrease the inefficiency of such idle funds and allow businesses and financial institutions to utilise them for productive investment—resulting in increased returns to shareholders as well as a more vibrant and robust economy.

Reclaiming these assets is not just about helping individual investors—it’s about benefiting the economy as a whole. Every dollar reclaimed and reinvested helps create a more vibrant and productive economic system. It’s like unlocking a treasure chest of funds that can propel new innovations, create jobs, and stimulate growth across industries.

Indeed, one of the key reasons for Niveshak Shivirs is to make sure that such funds do not lie idle, adding nothing to the economy. The objective is to empower investors to take back their money and, in the process, unveil potential economic growth that is badly needed in today's rapidly changing financial world.

The. cycle of unclaimed assets—succeeded only in lying dormant, not helping grow—is only interruptible by a collective effort to assist investors in recovering their money. It is an effort that not only assists individual investor recovery but provides an economic stimulus very much needed by ushering billions of rupees into circulation.

As these funds return to the system, they will have a positive multiplier effect, enhancing economic efficiency, enhancing market liquidity, and allowing India's economy to accelerate at a higher rate. It's a win-win situation: investors receive what rightfully belongs to them, and the economy gains from a more vibrant financial system.

Conclusion: Time to Reclaim What's Yours

Unclaimed assets and dividends are not merely forgotten money—they represent a chance to free up financial potential that had been lost to Indians. With initiatives such as the Niveshak Shivirs, SEBI and IEPFA are not only allowing citizens to recover their lost assets but also toward creating an inclusive and transparent financial system.

Now is the time to see if you have any lost assets. Your uncle's missing dividends or your father's forgotten shares could be the catalyst for opening your future. With these new systems, there's no better time than the present to recapture what's yours.

So, search today—your missing wealth may be waiting for you!

Our Directors’ Institute - World Council of Directors can help you accelerate your board journey by training you on your roles and responsibilities to be carried out efficiently, helping you make a significant contribution to the board and raise corporate governance standards within the organization.