The Investor Education and Protection Fund Authority (IEPFA), under the Ministry of Corporate Affairs, organised an investor education workshop in collaboration with the National Council of Applied Economic Research (NCAER) and Sapphire International School on the eve of International Women’s Day. The event aimed to strengthen financial literacy, investor awareness and digital safety among young students and women. It supported the vision of a financially empowered and inclusive society.

The programme followed the theme The Future is Now: Financial Education for Gen-Alpha and Bridging the Gender Gap for Viksit Bharat and brought together policymakers, financial experts and educators. Discussions addressed responsible financial behaviour and gender-inclusive participation in India’s expanding digital economy. Organisers highlighted the need for early interventions to build safe financial habits.

The principal of Sapphire International School welcomed participants and underlined the importance of equipping young learners, especially girls, with financial knowledge to foster confidence and independence. The chief executive officer of the Investor Education and Protection Fund Authority and joint secretary at the Ministry of Corporate Affairs set out the rationale for early financial education in the context of rapid growth in digital payments. She also drew attention to the need to empower women and girls through awareness and informed decision-making.

A panel moderated by the IEPFA Chair Professor at NCAER examined the alignment of financial education with digital transformation and methods to close the gender gap in financial confidence and access. Experts addressed cyber safety, financial planning, ethical financial practices and regulatory awareness for diverse audiences. The session emphasised practical steps to translate policy intent into classroom and community level interventions.

As part of outreach, the workshop engaged housekeeping staff with simple explanations of savings, investments and safe financial practices and allowed participants to seek guidance on digital safety and planning through a question and answer session. The event concluded with certificate distribution for quiz winners and participants, reinforcing IEPFA and NCAER commitment to promoting financial literacy and empowering youth and communities. Organisers indicated that such initiatives are integral to achieving the goals of Viksit Bharat.