Central Depository Services (India) Limited (CDSL) has launched Reimagine Ideathon 2.0, inviting students across India to develop practical solutions that help people understand investments, recognise financial fraud and navigate digital financial services safely. The competition offers a total prize pool of ₹11.5 lakh for the top five teams.
Launched during World Investor Week 2026 under the theme ‘Samajh Se Investing Simple’, the initiative supports the Securities and Exchange Board of India’s (SEBI) Project Jagrook and complements its Mentoring of University/College Students by Trainers (MUST) programme.
The initiative comes as more Indians enter the securities market but face growing online risks. SEBI’s Investor Survey 2025 found that around 3.21 crore households, or 9.5% of India’s estimated 33.72 crore households, invest in securities market products, while 63% of households are aware of at least one such product. India’s demat account base has crossed 23 crore. Government data cited by CDSL showed that ₹22,495 crore was reportedly lost to cyber fraud in 2025, with 76% of reported financial losses linked to fake investment and trading scams.
CDSL Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer Nehal Vora said investors should be able to verify information, understand risks and rewards, and make informed decisions confidently. CDSL has also partnered with Amar Chitra Katha to introduce investor awareness to younger audiences.
Students can submit ideas involving mobile applications, websites, chatbots, games, simulations, awareness campaigns, community models and AI-enabled assistants. A jury chaired by S. Ramadorai, former TCS chief executive and managing director and former BSE chairperson, will evaluate innovation, usability, impact, feasibility, scalability, accessibility, data protection and presentation clarity.
Registrations opened on October 7, 2026. The first edition received over 1,000 registrations from nearly 100 institutions across 21 states and two Union Territories. Details are available at https://ideathon.cdslindia.com/.
