Shiv Nadar University Chennai, in collaboration with the National Council of Applied Economic Research (NCAER) and the Investor Education and Protection Fund Authority (IEPFA), Ministry of Corporate Affairs, organised a workshop on “Digital Financial Literacy: Gen-Zs as Catalysts for Investor Education and Protection towards Viksit Bharat” on Oct 8.
The workshop, conducted at Justice Pratap Singh Auditorium, Shiv Nadar University Chennai, brought together senior policymakers, economists, financial sector experts, and academicians to deliberate on the growing importance of digital financial literacy among Gen-Z and the catalytic role of youth in promoting responsible financial behaviour and investor awareness.
Sumit Garg, CEO, IEPFA, in his keynote address highlighted the importance of strengthening investor education and protection in an increasingly digital financial ecosystem. He emphasized that the expansion of digital financial services needs to be accompanied by awareness of investor rights, safe digital practices, financial fraud risks, grievance redressal mechanisms and responsible financial decision-making.
Earlier In her welcome address, Dr. Pushpa Trivedi, Senior Professor and Head, Department of Economics, Shiv Nadar University Chennai, highlighted the importance of integrating digital financial literacy into higher education and emphasized the role of universities in equipping youth with practical knowledge and responsible financial habits so that they can navigate an increasingly technology-driven financial environment.
The panel discussion that followed brought together Dr. C. S. Mohapatra (IEPF Chair Professor, NCAER), Lt. Col. Aditya Sinha (General Manager, IEPFA), Mr. Dhanaraj T. (Executive Director, Indian Overseas Bank), Mr. Mathew George (Former Executive Director, United India Insurance Company Ltd.), and Ms. Sujatha Jayaraj (IRAS, Retd., Former Director Finance, Chennai Metro).
The panelists discussed India’s evolving digital financial ecosystem, the risks of cyber fraud and financial crime, the role of insurance in risk management, and the need for Gen-Z to build sound financial planning habits for long-term wellbeing. The session concluded with an interactive Q&A, where students engaged with speakers on digital transactions, investment awareness, cyber fraud prevention, and investor protection.
