Central Depository Services (India) Limited (CDSL) has launched Reimagine Ideathon 2.0, inviting students across India to develop innovative solutions to strengthen financial awareness and cyber safety, with a total prize pool of ₹11.5 lakh for the top five teams.
Launched during World Investor Week 2026, the initiative aligns with the theme ‘Samajh Se Investing Simple’ and supports the investor education objectives of the Securities and Exchange Board of India’s (SEBI) Project Jagrook.
According to SEBI’s Investor Survey 2025, around 3.21 crore households, or 9.5% of India’s estimated 33.72 crore households, invest in securities market products. Meanwhile, government data indicates that ₹22,495 crore was reportedly lost to cyber fraud in 2025, with 76% of reported financial losses attributed to fake investment and trading scams.
CDSL Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer Nehal Vora said the initiative would encourage students to develop accessible and engaging approaches to investor education, helping people assess risks, verify information and make informed investment decisions.
Participants can propose solutions through digital platforms, mobile applications, chatbots, games, simulations, awareness campaigns and AI-enabled assistants. Entries will be assessed on innovation, user experience, impact, feasibility, scalability, accessibility and data protection. The jury will be chaired by S. Ramadorai, former CEO and managing director of Tata Consultancy Services and former chairperson of BSE.
Registrations opened on October 7, 2026. The initiative builds on the inaugural edition, which received more than 1,000 registrations from nearly 100 institutions across 21 states and two Union Territories. Students can register at https://ideathon.cdslindia.com/