On 1-10-2025, the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) announced the “Validated UPI Handles” and “SEBI Check,” two key initiatives aimed at enhancing payment security and protecting investors from fraudulent transactions in the securities market.
Key Points:
-
Following its circular issued on 11-6-2025, SEBI has officially rolled out two key initiatives for more transparent and secure digital ecosystem for financial transactions for investors:
-
Validated UPI Handles
-
SEBI Check
-
-
The Validated UPI Handles system is introduced as a standardized format for UPI IDs used by SEBI-registered investor-facing intermediaries.
-
These UPI IDs now carry the exclusive “@valid” handle, issued by the National Payments Corporation of India (‘NPCI’), combined with category-specific suffixes such as:
-
.brk for brokers
-
.mf for mutual funds
(Example: abc.brk@validhdfc, xyz.mf@validicici)
-
-
This structured format allows investors to easily identify legitimate entities and avoid unauthorized recipients.
-
The key feature of this system is the visual verification icon, a “thumbs-up inside a green triangle”
-
Additionally, intermediaries will provide a distinctive QR code featuring the same thumbs-up logo at its center, enabling error-free and secure payments.
-
SEBI clarified that the @valid UPI handle is an additional payment option, not a replacement. Investors can still use NEFT, RTGS, IMPS, etc., but are encouraged to prefer @valid for added security.
-
SEBI has also launched the SEBI Check tool, a digital verification platform that allows users to confirm the authenticity of UPI IDs and bank account details of SEBI-registered intermediaries. The tool is available via:
-
SEBI Check Portal
-
Saarthi mobile app
-
SEBI official website
-
-
Investors can input either a UPI ID or a bank account number along with the IFSC code to verify credentials before initiating payments.
-
SEBI Check supports all major payment modes including UPI, NEFT, RTGS, and IMPS, making it a versatile resource for secure financial transactions.
-
SEBI strongly advises all individual investors to actively use the “@valid” UPI handles and verify payment details through SEBI Check before transferring funds.
-
By introducing visual cues and independent verification tools, SEBI aims to foster greater transparency, trust, and confidence among investors, reflecting its ongoing mission to safeguard investors, uphold market integrity, and build a robust digital ecosystem.
