Verified UPI handles:
Starting from 1 October 2025, the Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) will implement a new rule to improve the safety of financial transactions in the stock market. According to this rule, all market intermediaries like brokers, mutual funds, and portfolio managers must use verified UPI handles to collect payments from investors.
These new UPI IDs will have a standard format and will be issued through verified banks. The verified IDs will come with a green triangle and a thumbs-up icon to confirm that the UPI handle is safe to use. This move aims to reduce fraud and ensure that investors are paying only to authentic entities.
Around 8,000 registered intermediaries will need to follow this rule. While other options like NEFT and IMPS will still be available, investors using UPI must make payments only to these verified UPI handles.
Sebi Chairman Tuhin Kanta Pandey stated that this step is being taken to build trust among investors and protect their money from cyber fraud. Sebi will also launch a tool called “Sebi Check” to help investors verify UPI IDs and bank handles before making payments.
Each intermediary will have a unique UPI ID. For example, a broker’s ID could be like abc.brk@validhdfc. This ensures that no fake UPI ID can be used to collect money illegally.
Sebi’s full rollout of this feature is set for 8 December 2025, after which old UPI IDs will no longer work. Sebi will also run investor awareness programs across the country for the next two years to teach people about cybersecurity and online payment safety.
This rule has been created in consultation with NPCI and banks. Only Self-Certified Syndicate Banks (SCSBs) can issue these verified handles.
This is a major step by Sebi to protect investors and make digital payments in the market safer and more reliable.
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