On 22 June 2026 the Investor Education and Protection Fund Authority (IEPFA) held a panel at the Dr Ambedkar International Centre and launched the publication “Claiming the Unclaimed: Unlocking the Potential of Idle Financial Assets in India”.
Reforms and Process Changes
- Portal integration: Three separate web portals were integrated to reduce procedural steps for claims.
- Digital strengthening: Improvements to digital platforms aimed at faster verification and transfers.
- Claim simplification: Processes reworked to move claim settlement from multi‑year timelines to days.
Scope of Unclaimed Financial Assets
- Asset types: Shares, dividends, matured deposits and debentures held as unclaimed or dormant.
- Beneficiaries: Original investors and legal heirs are eligible to claim assets.
Key Rule Amendments (Jan 2026 proposal)
- Rules targeted: IEPFA (Accounting, Audit, Transfer and Refund) Rules, 2016.
- Low‑value claim mechanism: Physical shares ≤ ₹5 lakh, dematerialised shares ≤ ₹15 lakh, dividends ≤ ₹10,000 to be disposed within 30 days on company verification.
Impact Metrics
- Claim approvals: Monthly approvals rose to about 9,100–9,660 (Oct 2025–Mar 2026) from ~850 prior to reforms.
- Processing time: Reported reduction from years to days for many transfers and refunds after process changes.
IASPOINT Booster Facts
- Administrative control: IEPFA functions under the Ministry of Corporate Affairs.
- Fund custody: IEPF holds unclaimed amounts until claims are settled under statutory rules.
- Stakeholder focus: Reforms prioritise transparency, faster refunds and investor awareness campaigns.