The Department of Economics, Central University of Kashmir, in collaboration with the National Institute of Securities Markets (NISM), a capacity-building initiative of the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI), organised a special lecture on Financial Literacy and Awareness on 21 September 2026 at the IQAC Conference Hall, Green Campus, Ganderbal.

The programme was organised and coordinated by the faculty members of the Department of Economics, Dr. Jainendra Kumar Verma and Dr. Tasleem Araf Cash. The lecture aimed to enhance students’ understanding of financial literacy, securities markets, financial planning and their broader significance for economic development. All PG Economics students participated in the session.

The lecture was centred around the theme “Building Viksit Bharat Through Financial Wisdom”, with a particular focus on empowering the youth with financial knowledge and encouraging informed and responsible participation in financial markets. The resource persons highlighted the importance of connecting macroeconomic concepts with the practical functioning of capital markets.

During the session, detailed discussions were held on the role of securities markets in capital formation and economic growth. The students were made aware of how securities markets facilitate the mobilisation of household savings towards productive investment, thereby contributing to investment, infrastructure development and national economic growth. The importance of India’s young demographic in becoming active wealth creators through informed financial participation was also emphasised.

A significant part of the lecture focused on understanding the risk-return relationship associated with different financial products. Students were encouraged to carefully evaluate financial products, understand the associated risks and make responsible and informed investment decisions . The session also familiarised students with investor rights and regulatory mechanisms provided by SEBI, including corporate governance provisions and grievance redressal mechanisms such as the SCORES platform.

The resource persons also explained the importance of long-term financial planning, the power of compounding, diversification and asset allocation. The role of instruments such as Mutual Funds and Systematic Investment Plans (SIPs) in promoting disciplined and long-term investment was discussed. Students were also introduced to the importance of diversification in managing exposure to market volatility and protecting individual wealth.

The lecture provided the students with valuable practical insights into financial markets and complemented their academic understanding of economics with real-world applications. The interactive nature of the session helped strengthen awareness regarding responsible investment, financial decision-making and the importance of financial literacy in achieving broader economic development.

The programme concluded with a formal Vote of Thanks delivered by Dr. J.K. Verma, who expressed gratitude to the resource persons from NISM for sharing their valuable insights, the university administration for providing logistical support, and the students for their active and enthusiastic participation.