Central Depository Services (India) Limited (CDSL), Asia’s first listed depository and a trusted custodian of more than 19 crore demat accounts, has announced the launch of Reimagine Ideathon 2.0, inviting students nationwide to develop innovative solutions for investor awareness, financial literacy and cyber safety. The initiative offers a total prize pool of ₹11.5 lakh for the top five teams.
Launched during World Investor Week 2026 under the theme ‘Samajh Se Investing Simple’, the programme supports the Securities and Exchange Board of India’s (SEBI) Project Jagrook and complements its Mentoring of University/College Students by Trainers (MUST) initiative.
The programme addresses the need for informed market participation amid rising digital risks. SEBI’s Investor Survey 2025 found that 3.21 crore households, or 9.5% of India’s estimated 33.72 crore households, invest in securities market products. Government data cited by CDSL reported ₹22,495 crore in cyber fraud losses during 2025, with 76% of reported financial losses linked to fake investment and trading scams.
CDSL Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer Nehal Vora said the initiative would empower students to create accessible and engaging investor education solutions. Proposed formats include digital platforms, mobile applications, websites, chatbots, games, simulations, awareness campaigns and AI-enabled assistants.
The jury will be chaired by S. Ramadorai, whose leadership experience includes TCS and BSE. Entries will be assessed on innovation, user experience, impact, feasibility, scalability, accessibility, data protection and presentation clarity.
Registrations opened on October 7, 2026. The inaugural edition received over 1,000 registrations from nearly 100 institutions across 21 states and two Union Territories. Details are available at https://ideathon.cdslindia.com/.
