What Is IEPF and Form 5?

  Lost Your Share Certificate? Here's What to Do Losing a share certificate can be stressful, especially when it's tied to valuable investments. However, the good news is that the situation is not irreversible. If you've lost your share certificate, there are clear steps you can follow to recover it and protect your ownership rights. This guide will help you understand the process and what actions you should take immediately. What Is a Share Certificate? A share certificate is a legal document that a company issues to its shareholders.  For the quantity of shares held, it acts as proof of ownership. While the securities market is increasingly becoming digital, many investors still possess physical share certificates—especially for older investments. What Happens If You Lose It? Losing a share certificate does not mean losing ownership of the shares. However, you will need to go through a formal process to get a duplicate share certificate issued. This is important because,...

IEPF 101: Everything You Need to Know About IEPF Have you ever wondered what happens to dividends, shares, or other financial assets when they go unclaimed for years? In India, these do not go to waste. Instead, they are safeguarded under a government body called the Investor Education and Protection Fund, commonly known as IEPF. If you're hearing this for the first time or looking to understand it better, this guide has you covered. What is IEPF? IEPF stands for Investor Education and Protection Fund. It was set up by the Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA) to comply with Section 125 of the Companies Act, 2013. The IEPF's main goals are to safeguard investors' interests and advance financial literacy. It acts as a custodian for  unclaimed dividends , matured deposits, debentures, shares, and other related investments that remain untouched for seven consecutive years. Once such assets go unclaimed, the company transfers them to the IEPF Authority, which manages them on beha...

  How to Protect Investment in India:  A Practical Guide for Investors Investing your hard-earned money is an important step toward building wealth and securing your future. However, making the right investment is only one side of the coin — protecting your investment is just as crucial, especially in a diverse and dynamic market like India. Whether you're a new investor or an experienced one, ensuring your funds are safe should be a priority. Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to protect your investment in India. 1. Understand Your Investment Options Before you invest, it’s essential to understand where your money is going. India offers a wide range of investment instruments like: Stocks and mutual funds Fixed deposits (FDs) Public Provident Fund (PPF) Real estate Gold Government bonds Each comes with its own level of risk, return, and lock-in periods. Always match your risk appetite and financial goals with the investment type. 2. Diversify Your Portfolio Don’t put all you...

  Have you discovered that your dividends from past investments have remained unclaimed? You’re not alone. Many investors lose track of their dividend income over time due to address changes, misplaced documents, or failure to update bank details. The good news is that unclaimed dividends can be recovered—even from multiple companies—through a structured process. This blog will guide you step-by-step on how to reclaim your unclaimed dividends efficiently.  What Are Unclaimed Dividends? Dividends become “unclaimed” when they remain unpaid or uncashed by the shareholder for a period of seven years. After this period, the money is transferred to the Investor Education and Protection Fund (IEPF), a government body established to protect investors' interests. Fortunately, you can still reclaim these dividends by applying to the IEPF Authority.  Step-by-Step Guide to Reclaim Dividends from Multiple Companies  1. Identify the Companies and Dividend Records Getting informa...